The issue on standing and how much standing time people need daily have become a more serious concern during the recent years as the problem with sedentary lifestyle rose around the world.

The World Health Organization reports that 31% of adults are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity, with the number climbing to almost triple (80%) among adolescents. Alongside this reality is also the very real situation in which many people find themselves—many individuals live a very busy lifestyle, with little space left for health activities like exercise. A big percentage of individuals around the world spend most of their waking hours working, seated on their chair in front of the computer. In fact, in Canada, adults spend an average of 9.6 hours daily being sedentary.

So how do we deal with the growing concern about people’s sedentary lifestyle? The answer seems to lie on small activities such as standing. If there is no room for activities like going to the gym, people need to find ways to insert activities within the free pockets in their schedule. And, standing appears to be a popular and effective choice for this.

Now the Question: How Many Hours Should You Stand a Day?

In this blog post, we will share a guide on standing to help you add more movement to your day, break your sedentary lifestyle, and live healthier. So how long should you stand a day in order to break your sedentary streak?

Experts say you need a minimum of two hours of standing time every day (out of an 8-hour work day) to make sure you are not sedentary, with the average and prescribed number of hours to be between two and four hours.

So how do you get this amount of standing time in a day? Do you stand for a half day, four hours, and then sit for the rest of the day? The answer is to alternate between sitting and standing—you need to develop a sit-stand routine in your day.

A Closer Look at the Sit-Stand Lifestyle

The sit-stand lifestyle appears to be the most effective solution for individuals who want to add more activity to their days despite their busy schedule. So how does it work?

Well, as the name implies, it is a cycle of sitting and standing that is strategically planned throughout the day in order to keep individuals moving and active. If you are working in an office and have to be in front of your computer the whole day, the way to break your sedentary lifestyle is to ensure that you do not stay seated for a long period of time. Instead, you stand every so often to break prolonged sitting and move, perhaps adding a stretch or two in order to keep blood flowing and stimulate your muscles.

Now that we have shared the ideal number of hours when it comes to standing for long periods of time, the next question to ask is this: what is the correct way to practice the sit-stand lifestyle?

The answer is to do it alternately at the right intervals. But what is the right intervals, you may ask. Well, different specialists have different recommendations when it comes to this, and it pays to be familiar with those recommendations. Let’s take a look at the following:

Alternate between sitting and standing every half hour or full hour

You can sit for 30 minutes, and then followed by standing for the next 30 minutes. As you become more comfortable with standing, you can then increase the interval, such as sitting for an hour and then followed by standing for the next hour.

Observe the 1:1 to 1:3 ratio between sitting and standing

This works the same way as the previous case, except that here you are building your standing time—doing more standing and less sitting as you become more comfortable with standing.

You can start with 15 minutes of sitting, followed by 15 minutes of standing, and then alternating in the same manner moving forward. Once you feel you are ready to stand more, you can increase your standing time—the same 15 minutes of sitting, followed by 30 minutes of standing. And then, you can take this a little further by going for 15 minutes of sitting and then 45 minutes of standing, creating a full one-hour cycle each time.

Whether you choose the first option or the second, what’s important is that you maintain the cycle so that you stay active no matter how busy your day gets.

How to Stand for Long Periods of Time: Tips for Standing More

If you are used to sitting for a whole day, you might need some time to adjust to the new sit-stand lifestyle. In the beginning, you will need to prepare yourself for discomfort, and perhaps even pain, as you get used to standing more. The key to keeping the lifestyle is consistency—you have to continuously practice it.

Below are some tips to help you stand more:

• Take it easy. This might be contrary to what some people will think. While it might make sense to push on despite discomfort and pain, we recommend that you listen to your body and to follow what it tells you—rest when you need to, sit down when you feel pain, and try again.
• Use supportive shoes when standing. Find a pair that is soft and comfortable but able to give your feet reliable support.
• Try an anti-fatigue mat. For a little more extra help, get a rubber mat that can help absorb the strain from standing on concrete ground.

All of these tips can help make the transition from a sedentary to a more active lifestyle, through standing, easier and more convenient. If you are working in an office environment, you might also want to try a standing desk, a height adjustable desk that will make it easier to move between sitting and standing.

About Us

MotionGrey is a Canadian standing desk company that specializes in ergonomic furniture. We supply and install only the best quality standing desks and ergonomic chairs in the country. We offer free shipping within Canada and the US.

What made you switch to standing desks? Our products are designed with wellness as the focal point. From our electric standing desks to our office and gaming chairs, we deliver best value by putting your health, safety, and comfort as top priority. Boost your creativity and level up work performance. We want you to create great outcomes so we’re providing you only the best tools to make them possible.

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