Revitalize Your Workday: Transform Sedentary Habits with Just One Click!

A few years back, standing desks began to emerge in our workplaces. Initially, the concept of working while standing appeared somewhat unconventional, comparable to bosses insisting that chairs be eliminated from conference rooms to “invigorate” team meetings or treadmill desks being placed in the midst of your once staid office.

This trend was paired with fervent headlines regarding the hazards of prolonged sitting. Could it possibly be worse for us than obesity? Would excessive sitting have a detrimental effect on our waistlines comparable to smoking?

And just how much sitting qualifies as excessive? Understanding the threshold at which you cross into unhealthy territory seemed crucial, yet no one could definitively provide that information.

What the authorities (and those adjacent to authority) seem to concur on is that a mix of sitting and standing will better benefit your spine, enhance your sedentary habits, and may potentially contribute to a longer life. (Whether you will spend that added time you gain still tied to the labor force is more a concern for future governments and their retirement policies.)

Standing all day appears to be a unique form of torment, nevertheless. Thus, sit-stand desks have advanced. While they aren’t the standard desk for everyone, nowadays, their use hardly raises eyebrows.

Numerous varieties are available. There are risers you can utilize on top of your existing desk to elevate your monitor, mouse, and keyboard to standing levels, permitting you to maintain your preferred desk while still reaping the rewards of a standing one.

Ikea has also entered the market with a desk adjustable via a hand crank, catering to the more budget-conscious segment.

However, if you’re feeling extravagant, you might opt for the electric variant. This is where the Leap desk from office supplies brand Codex comes into play. With this electric standing desk, you can program your preferred heights and switch between them with the press of a button.

It meets all the essential criteria. It is spacious enough to serve as an office desk, providing ample room for your computer, an external monitor, and all other accessories needed to streamline your work life. Would it enhance my productivity, though? Or alleviate my nagging yet persistent back pain?

Upon first inspection, the bamboo variant of the Leap desk is quite eye-catching. There is ample space, and all cables are neatly concealed, preventing accidental trips or entanglements with your office chair.

Initially, it feels odd to have to plug in your desk. However, it would need to be near a power source regardless, and an additional plug likely won’t make a significant difference. Additionally, the notion that sitting all day at a desk is worse for your health than smoking is a hard belief to dismiss, even if experts can’t seem to fully agree on how to measure the detriment caused by a sedentary lifestyle.

The desk’s controls are discrete but not too tiny, and can be positioned on either side of the desk to match your personal preference. There are three configurations: one to set the desk at the seated height, another for standing height, and a third for whatever you desire. It is a straightforward process to program these buttons: hold the memory button for a few seconds, followed by the desired number.

The control panel also features a small display indicating the desk height, so if someone (in this case, a curious seven-year-old) inadvertently resets your seated setting, you can quickly rectify it.

The desk also has a commendable height range. It adjusts from 595mm to 1,245mm, which should adequately meet the needs of even taller workers (or, in my case, shorter).

Assembly didn’t take long. For this review, Codex put the desk together; this is included when they sell to businesses or home workers. If necessary, you could assemble it independently, but it is advisable to have a second person assist to simplify the process.

Once in position, the desk likely won’t be frequently moved. Weighing nearly 53kg, it isn’t easily portable to other floors, for instance. However, this also means the desk is solid and doesn’t feel like extending it to its full height will destabilize it – which is probably more critical than the ability to relocate it to another room, considering my current desk hasn’t moved in 4½ years (and only then due to relocating).

One detail not to overlook: invest in a quality chair. The Leap desk was provided with the NV Ergonomic office chair as part of the review, which adds to the overall expense if you need to upgrade your current setup. Even if you alternate between standing and sitting, you’ll still require a good chair, preferably ergonomic, for the time spent seated. No sense in negating any of the benefits the standing desk offers for your posture.

Pros

If you seek something easy to operate that also looks polished, the Leap desk is perfect. Once you’ve determined the appropriate heights, you can save them to the desk’s memory and retrieve them with a button press.

The desk itself offers ample space, even when loaded with all the customary workplace essentials.

Cons

While sturdy, it is heavy, so assemble it near your desired location.

Miscellaneous

There are two ports for cables, one on each side of the desk, allowing you to maintain tidy cable management.

The same frame can accommodate various desktop sizes, as it extends from 1,200mm to 1,600mm.

Conclusion

A stylish addition to your workspace – home or otherwise.