I recently wrote an article discussing sit stand desk mats and how they help improve circulation and allow you to work more comfortably throughout the day. However, the thing I didn’t realize at the time was that many people struggle with using a standing mat because, as recommended, they move from standing to sitting every half an hour or so. Unfortunately, with a sit stand desk mat, we run into a few problems if you’re going up and down that much. That’s why I’m going to run you guys through the issues with a regular sit stand desk mat and how the Sit Stand Smart Mat is here to save the day.

Sit Stand Smart Mat

Mats that are Ideal for Standing                              

So when you use a standing desk as recommended, see How to Use a Standing Desk, Properly (30 min. standing/30 min sitting) you find that a sit stand desk mat can be a real nuisance. If it’s ideal for standing, it will be quite soft. This is actually what you’re looking for because as I mentioned in my article, it’s that softness that helps increase blood flow and decrease fatigue. However, if your mat is this soft, trying to roll your chair onto it when it’s time to sit can be a pain. If you do happen to get your chair on the mat, then you also lose all the mobility your chair grants you. Imagine trying to move your chair on the sand. Impossible.

Sit Stand Desk Mats Ideal for Chairs

On the other hand, if your mat is easy to roll your chair onto then it’s not ideal for standing. A sit stand desk mat should be quite squishy. It doesn’t make much sense to have a sit stand desk mat that isn’t any softer than your hardwood floor. You have the mobility with your chair, but it doesn’t help much with anti-fatigue when you’re on your feet.

Most People’s Solution

Therefore, most people, if their mat is too soft, have to bend down, grab it, and get it out of the way every 30 minutes. What happens when you’ve already moved your mat 7 times that day, it’s 3 PM and your starting to lose energy? You say, “forget it!” (or something more colorful, if that’s your style). You just stop standing, and then that expensive sit-stand desk becomes a regular ‘ol desk, and you lose all the benefits it was giving you. This just isn’t a sustainable solution for most freelancers. So, let’s see what we can do about it.

Enter the Sit Stand Smart Mat

The sit stand smart mat has a straightforward solution to this problem, and it’s quite genius. They have a simple system where you can easily move your mat and push it under your desk. There’ve put in a ‘sweet spot,’ which is a different color than the rest of the mat, where when you lightly push it, the mat slides. There’s no bending down, no struggling to get your chair up onto the mat and you’re much more likely to follow your 30/30 sit stand routine.

So, when your 30 minutes of standing is over, and it’s time to sit back down, once again you slightly push on the ‘sweet spot’ and drag it back out with your foot. Easy as that. I’m going to leave a video here by Performance Based Ergonomics where you can actually see it in action from someone who isn’t the manufacturer.

As you can see, with the disc technology on the bottom, it only takes a tiny amount of effort to move the mat in and out. She’s also doing it on carpet, and it looks pretty effortless.

Specs

Places to buy:

Amazon: $100

Pacific Ergonomics: $112

Advanced Ergonomic Concepts: $119.35

Sit Stand Smart Mat: $155

So there are two different types of the sit stand smart mats, one for soft surfaces (carpet) and the other for hard surfaces (hardwood floor, tile, plastic chair mats). They’re the exact same price you just have to decide which one is best for you based on the flooring in your office.

It also comes in three colors, charcoal, grey and brown. They’re pretty basic but still good looking. As you can see in the photos, the ‘sweet spot’ is a little darker than the rest of the mat.

Buying it from the manufacturer, it comes with a 5-year Limited Warranty under “normal use.”

Stand longer to improve overall well-being

Sometimes as freelancers we can get caught up in our work and what needs to be done professionally, while our health and workplace safety take a back seat. Without an HR department to look after us it can be hard to think about ergonomics in the home office.

If you bend over improperly from the hips, as many do, having a sit stand desk mat could be a considerable health risk if you’re moving it 16 times throughout your 8-hour workday. Or you might just not move it because it’s too big of a hassle, which in the long term can have some really nasty effects. Take a look at my article: Sit-Stand Desk Top Workstation for more on that.

This Sit Stand Smart Mat could be the answer to all your back issues and the last piece of the puzzle on your way to a healthier you. At $100, the cost really isn’t very steep, but the benefits of creating a healthy work routine, improving your productivity, increasing your energy at the end of the workday and enhancing your overall well-being are all things that should not be overlooked. It’s time we started taking care of ourselves, and this Sit Stand Smart mat is an excellent addition to that lifestyle.

Putting together a home office but struggling a bit for motivation? Check out How to Organize a Home Office – Function and Comfort over Form

Do you think a sit stand smart mat would help you stand more throughout the day?