12 Science Approved Hacks To Boss Your Productivity

A standing desk is fast becoming the latest status symbol for young, funky start-ups, but do they actually work?

According to its proponents, the standing desk can boost productivity and attention levels by as much as 10%. It is thought that the active stance encourages a sense of urgency, leading to better focus and faster completion of tasks.

Although standing up will improve blood flow and posture, the effect is largely psychological. By alternating between standing and sitting, you make it much easier for your brain to compartmentalise tasks. If you only allow yourself to sit down after finishing writing an article or a report, and only allow yourself to do things like check your emails when you're sitting, you basically kill the temptation to multitask (which is the root of all evil as far as productivity goes).

In an experiment by the tech blog company readwrite.com, they found that tasks requiring a focussed, analytical approach were done better whilst standing, whereas creative tasks were more suited to sitting down. This variation could be the key to getting the most out of your time and your poor, tired brain.

One designer at readwrite even reported that he felt it had helped him quit smoking as standing up helped him managed to anxiety and restlessness associated with kicking the habit.