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I once joked that ever since I've heard about how bad it is to sit down during hours, I've decided to lay down instead. But is that really so silly? I used to

I once joked that ever since I've heard about how bad it is to sit down during hours, I've decided to lay down instead. But is that really so silly? I used to work in front of a computer. I was sited all day and I can tell it got very uncomfortable. I had back pain and stuff. Now I spend most of my time on the bed, and my back is absolutely fine. The main drawback is my neck, but it's not nearly as inconvenient. What I mean is : isn't the posture what is wrong with sitting instead of just inactivity? If so, does that mean we need something like the Altwork Station[1]? 1. http://altwork.com/ http://altwork.com/

kranner 9y ago
Serious question: do you have separate beds for sleeping/working? I've worked in bed during long periods of recovering from injury but I found it was very difficult to fall asleep at the end of the day because my body thought it was still 'in the office'. Now I work at a regular desk, and fall asleep within a couple of minutes of lying down at the end of the day.
- grondilu 9y ago
  Nope, I use the same bed. I do have difficulty to fall asleep though.
  - papa_bear 9y ago
    I spend most of my workday in a zero-gravity chair - I got a leather one off craigslist, but the cheap patio versions are just as comfortable (you can find a bunch on amazon). I have a monitor mounted above me and a keyboard in my lap, and it's never uncomfortable. I think for programming, being uncomfortable can definitely kill some productivity - at a normal desk, I'm intermittently thinking about and correcting my posture, or trying to shift myself to find a new comfortable position, and it interrupts my train of thought. And to feel like I'm not relaxing my ass into an early death, I'll get up and do a quick workout once every hour or two.
    - grondilu 9y ago
      What do you use to mount the monitor?
      - papa_bear 9y ago
        A basic monitor arm attached to the front of the desk, and a 40" monitor mounted to it. (this one: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Single-Monitor-Display-Mounting/dp/B00MIBN16O/ https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Single-Monitor-Display-M...) The downside is you can't really use the desk as a normal desk anymore, but if I need to write stuff or do non-computer work, I just do it elsewhere.
henrik_w 9y ago
Of course there is The Onion's report: More Office Workers Switching to Fetal Position Desks As they report "Fetal position desks help releive tension from unending horror of workday" :-) http://www.theonion.com/video/more-office-workers-switching-to-fetal-position-de-36240 http://www.theonion.com/video/more-office-workers-switching-...
amelius 9y ago
Perhaps. But it sounds like a recipe for atrophy. Make sure you still exercise.
yodsanklai 9y ago
Me too, I work mostly from the bed. I rarely sit more than 3-4 hours a day and it hurts. It started about 20 years ago and never went better. Besides that, I'm very active doing all type of sports without much issues, but sitting is painful. I'm lucky that I can work from home most of the time, I don't know how I would do if I couldn't.
- HNNoLikey 9y ago
  Get a load of this sweet set up http://www.neatorama.com/2014/07/30/Now-Theres-No-Reason-to-Ever-Get-out-of-Bed-Again/ http://www.neatorama.com/2014/07/30/Now-Theres-No-Reason-to-...
Lukas_Skywalker 9y ago
I remember a study from a few years ago, but I sadly can't find an authorative link. The result was basically that for your circulation, it doesn't matter if you sit or lay down (both are equally bad), but laying down is much better for your back and joints.
matwood 9y ago
This is why I like working at home. Throughout my workday I go from standing, to sitting, to laying on the couch. Even when sitting I'll move from my office desk to the kitchen table just to mix things up. Is my posture perfect in any of these positions? Probably not, but I never stay in one position long enough to notice. Another thing that I didn't really think about when I bought my Apple Watch, were the reminders to walk around every hour or so. It sounds simple, but without the reminders I would rarely get up on days when I go in the office.
- glenneroo 9y ago
  An even better reminder IMHO is to just drink plenty of water, then your body tells you when it's time to get up and empty your bladder (and refill the glass). I've been using this method for ~25 years without the need for digital reminders. My glass holds 0,5 Liters of water and that's usually the limit for my bladder.
lscore720 9y ago
Be careful, the neck position may catch up to you eventually! I spent about 75% of the workday in bed with my laptop over the past 5 years. Earlier this year, I experienced my first pinched nerve - chronic pain is horrible; the doctor, medication, and especially the physical therapy are no fun :) I recently started using a lap desk laptop stand with multiple adjustable angles and comfortable bolster cushion (in case you're curious, the brand I purchased is Halter - $19.99). I now sit on my couch with the laptop screen directly in line with my eyes, to prevent the typical downward neck tilt common with desk use.

kranner 9y ago

Serious question: do you have separate beds for sleeping/working? I've worked in bed during long periods of recovering from injury but I found it was very difficult to fall asleep at the end of the day because my body thought it was still 'in the office'. Now I work at a regular desk, and fall asleep within a couple of minutes of lying down at the end of the day.

grondilu 9y ago
Nope, I use the same bed. I do have difficulty to fall asleep though.
- papa_bear 9y ago
  I spend most of my workday in a zero-gravity chair - I got a leather one off craigslist, but the cheap patio versions are just as comfortable (you can find a bunch on amazon). I have a monitor mounted above me and a keyboard in my lap, and it's never uncomfortable. I think for programming, being uncomfortable can definitely kill some productivity - at a normal desk, I'm intermittently thinking about and correcting my posture, or trying to shift myself to find a new comfortable position, and it interrupts my train of thought. And to feel like I'm not relaxing my ass into an early death, I'll get up and do a quick workout once every hour or two.
  - grondilu 9y ago
    What do you use to mount the monitor?
    - papa_bear 9y ago
      A basic monitor arm attached to the front of the desk, and a 40" monitor mounted to it. (this one: https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Single-Monitor-Display-Mounting/dp/B00MIBN16O/ https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Single-Monitor-Display-M...) The downside is you can't really use the desk as a normal desk anymore, but if I need to write stuff or do non-computer work, I just do it elsewhere.

henrik_w 9y ago

Of course there is The Onion's report: More Office Workers Switching to Fetal Position Desks As they report "Fetal position desks help releive tension from unending horror of workday" :-) http://www.theonion.com/video/more-office-workers-switching-to-fetal-position-de-36240 http://www.theonion.com/video/more-office-workers-switching-...

amelius 9y ago

Perhaps. But it sounds like a recipe for atrophy. Make sure you still exercise.

yodsanklai 9y ago

Me too, I work mostly from the bed. I rarely sit more than 3-4 hours a day and it hurts. It started about 20 years ago and never went better. Besides that, I'm very active doing all type of sports without much issues, but sitting is painful. I'm lucky that I can work from home most of the time, I don't know how I would do if I couldn't.

HNNoLikey 9y ago
Get a load of this sweet set up http://www.neatorama.com/2014/07/30/Now-Theres-No-Reason-to-Ever-Get-out-of-Bed-Again/ http://www.neatorama.com/2014/07/30/Now-Theres-No-Reason-to-...

Lukas_Skywalker 9y ago

I remember a study from a few years ago, but I sadly can't find an authorative link. The result was basically that for your circulation, it doesn't matter if you sit or lay down (both are equally bad), but laying down is much better for your back and joints.

matwood 9y ago

This is why I like working at home. Throughout my workday I go from standing, to sitting, to laying on the couch. Even when sitting I'll move from my office desk to the kitchen table just to mix things up. Is my posture perfect in any of these positions? Probably not, but I never stay in one position long enough to notice. Another thing that I didn't really think about when I bought my Apple Watch, were the reminders to walk around every hour or so. It sounds simple, but without the reminders I would rarely get up on days when I go in the office.

glenneroo 9y ago
An even better reminder IMHO is to just drink plenty of water, then your body tells you when it's time to get up and empty your bladder (and refill the glass). I've been using this method for ~25 years without the need for digital reminders. My glass holds 0,5 Liters of water and that's usually the limit for my bladder.

lscore720 9y ago

Be careful, the neck position may catch up to you eventually! I spent about 75% of the workday in bed with my laptop over the past 5 years. Earlier this year, I experienced my first pinched nerve - chronic pain is horrible; the doctor, medication, and especially the physical therapy are no fun :) I recently started using a lap desk laptop stand with multiple adjustable angles and comfortable bolster cushion (in case you're curious, the brand I purchased is Halter - $19.99). I now sit on my couch with the laptop screen directly in line with my eyes, to prevent the typical downward neck tilt common with desk use.