Is your office furniture moving with the times?
Are you in a job where you spend most of the day sitting down? And do you worry about what that’s doing to your health?
There’s no need to change jobs just yet!
Workplaces have become more agile than ever, allowing people to choose when, where and how they work.
A flexible workspace can encourage and increase productivity, creativity and the circulation of ideas.
But what about actual circulation? The kind that keeps the blood pumping and the brain switched on.
An effective modern workspace should not only take into account the movement of ideas, but also physical movement.
It’s easy to bemoan ‘children of today’ for spending too much time glued to screens and not enough time outside playing.
But, according to research by the University of Edinburgh, middle-aged workers spend more time sitting down than pensioners.
Which bears some thinking about.
As well as the obvious health benefits, a workplace that encourages staff to be more active increases productivity.
While you may not be able to get everyone to sign up for a gym membership, making seemingly small changes can pack a big punch.
Cleverly designed and configured office furniture, like our Aktiv ‘on-the-go’ range, can encourage movement in the work environment, that has a cumulative positive effect on health, wellbeing and productivity.
Sit-stand desks
Desks that allow you to change between a sitting and standing position, like the Motiv sit-stand desks, can reduce the risk of diabetes, weight gain and heart disease (all of which have links to a sedentary lifestyle).
But it doesn’t stop there.
A year-long study by the University of Leicester found that people using sit-stand desks were more engaged, better at their jobs and had a higher overall quality of life. They also suffered less job-related fatigue, anxiety and back issues.
The Motiv Worksystem is available as Fixed Height, Crank Adjustable or Electric Adjustable and supports a variety of working styles and height needs.
Highly reconfigurable, the modular design can transform from a simple desk to a fully featured workstation system incorporating cable management with concealed ‘plug and play’ soft wiring power feed, integrated cable management tray, privacy and acoustic screens, CPU holders, monitor/laptop/tablet arms, shelves, document trays and other accessories.
In short, it’s extremely adaptable, and easy to use. And the easier a sit-stand desk is to use, the more likely people are to alternate between a sitting and standing position – and reap the benefits.
Ready to roll
The ultimate in office space agility is the ability to effortlessly and seamlessly transform a space from one use to another.
For multi-purpose venues, the Aktiv flip-top offers a quick-change solution, without compromising on ergonomics or comfort.
The tables can be folded and unfolded with ease, set to a sitting or standing height and rolled into position as needed. All with quick and simple movements that don’t put stress and strain on the body.
The unique counterbalance gas-spring mechanism means desk height can be adjusted as quickly as it takes you to stand up!
Because it’s so easy (and quiet), workers are more likely to make use of the stand-sit function to vary their working position during the day, bringing health and productivity benefits.
Must-have Gustav
Hot-desking comes with the advantages of cost savings, greater collaboration, a less cluttered work space and the ability for individuals to choose the best environment for them on any given day.
But … no matter how much we ‘Marie Kondo’ our working lives, we still have ‘stuff’ that we need to carry around with us. And the harder it is to move this ‘stuff’ between desks, the more of an impediment it becomes to getting people moving around the office.
The Gustav is the activity-based worker’s new best friend! It’s a semi-permanent hub for storing essential work tools (like your favourite pen), which you don’t want to have to take home in your handbag or briefcase every day.
And, at 410mm(L) x 180mm(W) x 180mm(H), it fits minimum internal locker dimensions.
Armed for success
Moving from desk to desk can feel like getting into your car after someone else has driven it and the rear-view mirror is too high and the seat too low.
The Vario Monitor Arm makes the transition easier, by allowing users to easily position the screen at the right angle and height for them.
The built-in elbow spring adjuster allows perfect weight adjustments to suit monitor weight, while the new top-mounting feature make it easy to install.
People are creatures of habit. But if you make it easy for them to change their habits they are more likely to do so. If you want to change a sedentary office culture, agile office furniture is key.