She is well-known for her love of high heels, but a recent image of successful fashion designer and pop star, Victoria Beckham, walking in a pair of heels on a treadmill at her desk got everyone in a stir.
The former Spice Girl, proved her boots were made for walking as she tried out a treadmill desk last month, and was pictured posing in a pair of stiletto ankle boots whilst typing on her laptop surrounded by mountains of work.
The celebrity even tweeted, “Every office should have one of those, work out and work at the same time. Genius!” Since the tweet, the treadmill desk has received nationwide coverage with many people wanting to follow in VB’s fashionable footsteps.
A new study has also found that standing desks can actually improve workers productivity, as well as creativity.
Claremont Office Interiors says that as the average worker spends more time in their workplace than any other activity, this often means the majority of people remained glued to their seats and computer screens all day, which can have a negative impact on their health and also staff morale.
The leading office interiors specialist, based in Aberdeen for the past 15 years, has noticed a growing interest in stand up desks and wellbeing in the office.
Director at Claremont Office Interiors, Laura Jevons, said: “With an impressive fashionable following, the image of Victoria on the treadmill desk really captured the imagination of workers with many unaware of this style of working. Although walking on a treadmill desk in heels is not recommended, it does highlight the changes in the workplace, with new technologies enabling staff to work from virtually anywhere, thanks to wireless laptops and iPads.
“In Denmark they have now made it mandatory to offer staff sit-stand desks, however the UK is yet to implement this standard. Similar to treadmill desks, electronic desks that can go from a seated position to a standing height at the touch of a button are becoming more popular in the UK market. The adjustable desks are the perfect solution for workers as they can move into alternative positions throughout the day to help their posture and comfort throughout the day.”
So, what are the advantages of stand-up desks?
More energy and better posture: Standing while you work allows more blood to flow to the brain, making you more alert, compared to being slumped at desk all day where you can often get tired. Standing for some of the day also helps to maintain good posture and relieve lower back pain.
Health benefits: There is a staggering amount of research that has found prolonged sitting can have serious health consequences, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic problems and lead to poor moods. Standing while you work can help to burn calories and aid weight loss, with the average person burning about 100 calories for every mile they walk – a third more than sitting, and that’s without the treadmill element.
Increased focus and activity level: It has been found that standing can help to get the creative juices flowing, due to workers experiencing less fatigue. Better circulation in the body can make it easier for employees to focus on the task in hand and also improve the overall mood of workers, in turn helping to increase productivity.
Although the treadmill desk may not be for everyone, Claremont Office Interiors suggests with the latest technology allowing desks to change positions so easily and with further research highlighting the health improvements, it may be time to ditch the chairs and re-think how your office works.