{"id":379,"date":"2015-12-07T15:49:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T15:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cardinus.com\/us\/?p=379"},"modified":"2022-08-05T10:00:54","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T14:00:54","slug":"easier-train-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cardinus.com\/us\/insights\/ergonomics\/easier-train-dog\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s Easier to Train a Dog!"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to getting staff to sit or stand\u2026\u00a0it\u2019s easier to\u00a0train a dog!\u00a0Ann Hall describes the frustration of training\u00a0employees to use sit\/stand desks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Behavior change is difficult. We all know what\u00a0we would like to do, but remembering and\u00a0following through can often be a challenge. It\u2019s\u00a0especially difficult when you have to change\u00a0the behavior of employees and sometimes it\u00a0feels easier to train a family pet.<\/p>\n

I rolled out a walking program where one of\u00a0the hardest obstacles was getting people to\u00a0remember to use their wearable fitness tracking\u00a0devices. Every week I heard the drama of people forgetting, washing and losing their device as well\u00a0as excuses as to why exercise was impossible.<\/p>\n

The employees who set morning reminders to\u00a0use the devices and pre-scheduled their walking\u00a0times were the most successful. I don\u2019t necessarily\u00a0think they wanted it more, I think the way they\u00a0realistically integrated it into their schedule was\u00a0just more effective for them. It essentially became\u00a0part of their daily routine.<\/p>\n

Changing a working position from sit to stand or\u00a0sit\/stand is a change from how many of us have\u00a0worked our entire lives. The concept is simple,\u00a0but getting employees to buy-in on this notion\u00a0and use the desk in the best possible way can be\u00a0a challenge. Based on 16 years working with sit\/stand desks there is one thing I am sure of \u2013 you\u00a0cannot just give a person a new desk, walk away\u00a0and expect them to use it the way you intended.<\/p>\n

\"Ergonomics<\/a><\/p>\n

The question is how do we get the majority\u00a0of employees motivated to use the desks\u00a0properly and help us to achieve compliance?\u00a0I recommend a focus on these three things to\u00a0improve your compliance rates:<\/p>\n

Training<\/h2>\n

Employees need to be intrinsically motivated\u00a0to stand and sit. Sounds easy, but why people\u00a0would want to use a sit\/stand desk is very diverse.\u00a0I use a worksheet to help users define their own\u00a0motivation and goals after we identify all the\u00a0benefits that they could realize. Having more\u00a0energy and more comfort through reduced\u00a0muscle fatigue can usually be felt right away\u00a0so this is to be emphasized. It is also good\u00a0to highlight better circulation and improved\u00a0metabolism, and that it is easier to manage\u00a0anxiety and stress.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, there are a lot of employees who\u00a0mention calorie burn and are highly motivated\u00a0by it. The last thing any corporate wellness\u00a0professional wants is an employee eating more\u00a0high fat, high sugar junk food, thinking they have\u00a0burned off enough calories standing. If calorie\u00a0burn is what motivates them so be it, but please\u00a0help them be realistic about their expectations.<\/p>\n

Training on static postures and the key benefits\u00a0of alternating your position throughout the day\u00a0is really important so they know how to properly\u00a0use their desk. If you swap all day sitting for all day\u00a0standing you probably won\u2019t have more energy\u00a0or comfort.<\/p>\n

Other benefits of using a sit\/stand desk, such as\u00a0being able to adjust the desk to better achieve a\u00a0neutral posture, are good to cover. This includes\u00a0defining what this means for users in both the\u00a0sitting and standing positions. Be prepared to\u00a0cover the use of keyboard trays and monitor arms\u00a0as well if they are used at your facilities.<\/p>\n

Coaching<\/h2>\n

Getting people to advance to the point where\u00a0they are standing anywhere from eight to 24\u00a0times a day is something that needs to be\u00a0worked up to for the majority of people. Users\u00a0need to start and advance at their own pace.\u00a0Some may not have the leg muscle strength to\u00a0support their body weight standing in a static\u00a0position for very long. Others may need to be\u00a0coached to take sitting breaks.<\/p>\n

Research has shown that for behavior change to\u00a0be the most effective and sustainable it should\u00a0contain these components: specific, measurable,\u00a0achievable, relevant, and time-based. Yes, like\u00a0objectives, they should be SMART.<\/p>\n

I would also say that the person having some\u00a0control over their goals and plan is key. You\u00a0can guide them, but there seems to be more\u00a0commitment when the pace and goals come\u00a0from them. I came to terms with the fact that\u00a0some people may stand twice a day for no more\u00a0than ten minutes, not counting bathroom breaks.\u00a0The more people feel the results, then the more\u00a0apt they are to increase their goals.<\/p>\n

Here is a short list to build upon when coaching\u00a0people to adopt a sit\/stand lifestyle:<\/p>\n

Specific, measurable goals<\/h3>\n