If you’re like a lot of gamers in today’s workforce, you’re seated at your desk for six or seven hours a day before you even get home to fire up your PC for a rousing round of Rocket League. It might be a frustrating reality to acknowledge, but that’s a lot of time to sit in a chair, even if you managed regular breaks or a good run in the morning.
The truth is this: Sitting for that long isn’t healthy. Sitting for extended hours has been linked to numerous health issues, including diabetes and heart disease.
A standing desk is a great solution to switch out of your sedentary routine. Instead of coming home from the office, grabbing a bite to eat, and sitting down again to unwind, transforming your gaming desk into a standing desk can keep you upright and focused well into the evening.
You wouldn’t be the first one to try it out. Standing desks hold a special place in today’s gaming community. They have been used by popular Twitch streamers like lil_lexi and Xaryu, along with YouTubers like Outfoxed Gaming and just9n, to engage differently with games and with fans.
Popularity aside, here are five reasons why your gaming desk should be a standing desk:
1. It feels like you’re part of the action.
How long has it been since you felt like you were in the moment while gaming?
It might be the nostalgia talking, but those old arcade boxes you’d seen in the 80s and 90s did a great job of putting you in middle of the action. Whether you were fighting in the mean streets of the Double Dragon franchise or laying down the oil slick in Spy Hunter, standing in the booth and leaning on the controls added an element of reality that felt different from a standard experience -- even with early NES games.
Those old games might be relics of the past — along with most arcades — but that doesn’t mean that you can’t relive the experience! A standing desk is a great step in that direction. The next time the Zerg swarm shows up, you might find yourself scrambling just like a Terran marine to dig in and hold the line.
Let’s hope you built a bunker!
2. You may see increased performance.
A lot of people pace when they walk. You see it in movies all the time where the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist is in search of an idea and starts to think out loud while pacing around the room. We all know the “ah-ha!” moment is coming where he snaps his fingers and gets to work, but we’re all waiting for the revelation to hit him.
That scene is so common that it’s practically a classic!
One reason that a pacing scene shows up so much is that it’s something that some people do when they’re trying to get their creative juices flowing. A number of studies confirm that pacing and walking can do wonders for removing mental blocks and overcoming challenges. One study from Stanford University, concluded that walking improved the generation of novel ideas and considered the activity beneficial to a standard workday.
For gamers, that creative spark is important. When you’re looking for a way to outsmart your opponent or complete your objective, any competitive edge you can get is a blessing. Instead of cozying up in your favorite chair, a standing desk keeps you on your toes, keeps you engaged, and helps you find that creative spark you need to come out on top.
3. Better, faster, stronger.
In many ways, the science is still out on standing desks, but we do know that regular exercise can improve memory and thinking skills thanks to a study from the University of British Columbia.
What does that mean for you in the short term? Whether you’re in love with action games, shoot-em-ups, MMORPGs, or strategy and tactics games, finding a way to keep your skills sharp and your reactions sharper is a surefire way to win. If you’ve got a winning game plan and the nimble fingers to pull it off, you’re on your way to the top of the leaderboards.
We’re not saying that a standing desk is a substitute for exercise, but standing upright after a long day at work can be a great change of pace. It can even help prevent blood clots and diabetes. On top of that, you may find that standing upright is a great way to ease the back pain that often comes with squeaky office chairs and ergonomically-unfriendly workspaces.
4. Prepping for the future.
There’s a good chance that the future of gaming will take on a more immersive role. That’s what gaming is all about, right? Having a good time and experiencing an (often) impossible experience. You might want to don a suit of armor and fight some dragons, but we’re sorry to report that the Earth is a bit short on dragons at the moment. Thedas and Skyrim, however, seem to have them in abundance.
Augmented and virtual reality are slowly gaining ground in modern gaming. You’ve probably seen the videos of players crawling through dark spaces and elderly grandmothers getting attacked by zombies.
That kind of immersion may not be far off, though it’s probably got a ways to go. (Relax, Wade. We’re not going to the OASIS yet.) If you’ve got a standing desk, you’re already ahead of the curve. Learning to stand on your own two feet while sniping other players out of the round in Fortnite might be your gateway to the future.
5. It’s a nice change of pace.
We’ve mentioned it a few times already, but taking some time to stand can be a great change of pace after a sedentary day at the office. It can also change the way you interact with games. It’s such an enticing idea that a few gamers have even tried it and can give you the gist of their experiences.
One Kotaku gamer mentioned that after two months standing while playing, he felt more engaged at his desk. Writing for PC Gamer, Evan Lahti mentioned something similar in his article, written after a year of playing PC games with a standing desk, noting that even slower-paced had become more fun and engaging while standing.
Wrapping Up
We’re definitely not saying that we’ve got something against the guy in the chair. If that’s your schtick, then own it. But the next time you’re getting ready to settle down and plug into the Matrix, take a few minutes and consider options.
If you’re looking for a great standing desk (and even more reasons why standing desks can revolutionize your gaming experience), check this out.