I recently did a 15 min interview with Trevor Brown from The Undesk
I am a huge fan of standing desks and strongly encourage my students to try them. It should be noted that nothing is right for everyone, and that you should find what works for you. Having said that, I use one myself- in fact I’m standing at it right now as I write this post. And I love it. Also, I live in Boulder, where there are countless startups and tech companies. More and more I see people around town using them… In other words, they work for a lot of people and are worth very serious consideration!
Also, sedentary sitting all day has been associated with obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other negative effects.
Here are some of the common benefits of standing desks:
Greater focus, attention and concentration
More alernesst, engagment and energy
Higher productivity
Reduced stress
Freedom of movement
Improved circulation, lower blood pressure
Burn more calories
Healthier back and joints (when using proper posture!)
Tips:
I stand on a yoga mat folded in fourths, to cushion my feet. I find that this helps me be more comfortable, and the guys at the Undesk use a similar pad.
Be aware of your posture.
I alternate between sitting and standing whenever I feel like it. Usually every 20-30 minute or so, but find what works for you. Also, you probably don’t want to go from sitting all day to standing all day- you may end up sore. Ease into it.
Your elbows should be comfortable and at about a 90 degree angle when you are writing or typing.
Relax your shoulders and your body. You should be comfortable!
Screens should be at about eye level when possible. Unfortunately I am on a laptop right now, and have to bend my neck down. This is not optimal, but until I get my screen mounted, this is how I have it. The guys at teh Undesk have screens mounted-they are very cool because they are on an arm that is flexible.
Move. Shift feet, move your knees, be comfortable, adjust your shoulders, roll your neck a bit. Standing should feel good, listen to your body! (You should NOT feel pain. If you do, you may be standing too long or your posture may be out of proper alignment. So shift your body or just sit if this happens.)
