Standing Desk

[keyplyr]

In my efforts to avoid the sedimentary life, I have switched to a standing desk.

This seemed a simple solution to break away from sitting all day. Between my *other* job and webmastering, I found I was sitting more and more. Everywhere I went on the web it seemed I was reading about the ills of sitting all day; everything from heart failure, to stroke, diabetes, prostate problems and more.

Looked around online a couple days and found a great looking tempered smoked glass top adjustable desk with a large keyboard tray and plenty of room. I'm 6'1" and the desk top can rise as high as 49" which is the recommended elbow resting height for a standing desk. Perfect (thought I...)

After spending the better part of two hours putting this thing together (whew!) it was time to hook everything up and get going. Had to get a few longer cords and mount my 32" monitor on the wall to accommodate the higher desktop.

Now that everything is set up and functional, I'm finding there's a lot more to this than I had envisioned. Typing on the keyboard while standing is a new experience and while I'm sure I will get accustomed to it, it seems awkward. I'm usually a super fast typist, but I'm finding myself looking down at the keyboard constantly.

But I do like the freedom of standing. Next step... dancing.

[LifeinAsia]

When we changed offices at my day job last year, a standing desk was my major (pretty much only) request. It's been 15 months and I'm seriously considering some sort of standable option for my work desk at home.

The first 2 days I alternated between standing/sitting, but since then I pretty much stand all day. And of course now I see things on the Internet about the ills of standing all day... (I guess writers have to use scare headlines for all the extremes.)

As a bonus, my bicycle just fits perfectly under the desk when it's up.

[robzilla]

Did you get a motorized one? I bought one with a crank, and can't remember the last time I cranked the desk up for standing.

What I remember from the times that I did stand at the desk, is that the barrier to walking away was much lower than when sitting, so I gave in to distractions easier. But maybe that's just me and my increasingly distracted, unfocused brain. (Also, I mostly work from home).

[edited by: robzilla at 8:31 pm (utc) on Oct 31, 2017]

[lucy24]

Every couple of years, my lower back decides to make its presence known for a few weeks. During one such phase, things got so bad I wasn't able to sit. (Technically, I could sit just fine. It was standing up again that was the problem.) Running out and buying a standing desk was not in the budget, so for a week or two I used the computer while kneeling.

[keyplyr]

Did you get a motorized one? I bought one with a crank

Crank :)

I considered the ones with motors but thought at some point there'd be a problem. Like you robzilla, I see no reason to go up and down after I get it the right height. I have it all the way up (49") and have the monitor mounted on the wall, so this is committed now.

I also took off the crank handle and threw it in a drawer.

[ken_b]

I want one of these, and as it happens a Costco catalog arrived today with an ad for a power adjustable sit/stand desk for $100.00 off from Nov 9 to 16. Final price $199/00 online or warehouse.

If they have it in my local stores I'm going to check it out.

[robzilla]

I also took off the crank handle and threw it in a drawer.

Do you have a separate desk for sitting, or will you only be standing now? Too much of anything is bad, including standing.

[tangor]

Kitchen counter works fine for me when I need to do work standing. :)

[LifeinAsia]

so for a week or two I used the computer while kneeling.

I used one of those kneeling "chairs" for a while at a previous job. It took a little getting used to, and I was never able to go for more than a few hours before switching back to a regular chair. Like you, I started using it when I had some back problems and it really helped.

[keyplyr]

Do you have a separate desk for sitting, or will you only be standing now? Too much of anything is bad, including standing.

My office is a recording studio with plenty of places to sit.

The standing desk will stay at 49", or at least that's the plan. This is only the second day, so never say never but my intention is to keep it the way it is. I had quite a time mounting my 32" monitor on the wall and dropping the cables down inside the wall and back out at the floor to the computer. That's inspiration enough to give me the motivation to stay with this. I'm pretty stubborn and will likely not change my mind.

At home (down the street) I use a notebook/tablet hybrid and usually sit at my bar or lie back on my bed with it (it never says "no")

[martinibuster]

I couldn't imagine standing.

I keep some weights behind me so I can do some quick curls throughout the day. Locating the office up a flight of stairs also helps keep me in shape. That and owning a dog are my solutions for that problem during the day.