5 ms·

I switched to a standing desk about six months ago. I started by piling a bunch of books on my desk and putting my laptop on top of them. Later I bought this:

by jordanb 16y ago

I switched to a standing desk about six months ago. I started by piling a bunch of books on my desk and putting my laptop on top of them. Later I bought this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MS70Z2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000PSUYGW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1TJJ2C19QWNMN8M6XD3A http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MS70Z2/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp... It's a tolerably good desk, except that it's a bit small and, while it's veneered to look like plywood, it's actually made of pasteboard with a laminate veneer (that was a big disappointment when it arrived). I would like to make my own soon, as I've been getting into woodworking, at which point I will probably sell or give the safeco away. A few points about standing desks: * You should be able to stand all day. At first you will get tired, of course. I found that muscles in my back, butt and thighs were getting very sore, but that goes away once they toughen up. For that reason, I don't particularly see the point in desks that convert from sitting to standing. It seems like that would just encourage people to start "cheating" and going back to sitting the moment they get a little tired. * I tend to rock from foot to foot, kick my feet around, etc, while standing. A big part of the advantage of a standing desk is that you move around more, but if I were in an open-plan office I'd probably try to stand still, which would tire my feet out quickly and give me less of the movement advantage. * You need good support for your feet. Either purchase very nice shoes or (like me) get something like this: http://www.americanfloormats.com/rejuvenator-anti-fatigue-mat/ http://www.americanfloormats.com/rejuvenator-anti-fatigue-ma... That mat made night-and-day difference for me. Had I not gotten it I would have given up on the desk, because standing all day on a wood floor (even in decent shoes) was starting to kill my feet. * I also got this monitor stand and clamped it to the top of the safeco: http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Monitor-Stand-clamp-monitors/dp/B002R9HQLI/ref=sr_1_1?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1302634710&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Monitor-Stand-clamp-monitors/dp/B... With it, my monitors are about a foot off the top of the desk, while the keyboard is at exactly the right height for my arms. Since I look straight forward all day long now, my posture has improved dramatically.

unignorant 16y ago
I entirely agree with you, excepting for your comment about shoes. In most circumstances, the best way to avoid foot problems is not to "buy better footware/orthotics" but rather to strengthen your feet. If you are skeptical, look into the "minimalist" running movement. There is quite a bit of research which suggests that the human foot is itself a better support system than any external aid. The problem is that, living as most people do, their foot muscles have atrophied. I stand barefoot on hardwood all day long.
- staticshock 16y ago
  How have you strengthened your feet?
  - jnorthrop 16y ago
    If you wear shoes without arch support and have flexible soles (or go barefoot) your feet with strengthen themselves by having to work just to keep you upright.
    - patricklynch 16y ago
      Absolutely agree. I made the switch to more minimalist footwear shortly after reading a relevant article two years ago.[1] If it were socially acceptable to wear Vibram fivefingers where I work, that's what I'd do. Since that's not really an option, I wear Puma sneakers (the 'replicat' line doesn't have a huge heel cushion) without an insert. And then at home I work standing up, barefoot. If you're looking for new footwear options, a few places are now selling, ironically, 'barefoot' sneakers. [2, 3] [1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-... [2] http://www.vivobarefoot.com/ http://www.vivobarefoot.com/ [3] http://www.merrell.com/US/en/Barefoot http://www.merrell.com/US/en/Barefoot
  - unignorant 16y ago
    I agree with jnorthrop. Although if you want to be a bit more hardcore about it, you might try a few (short) barefoot runs each week. In this latter case, however, be careful. It's easy to do "to much too soon."
- jnorthrop 16y ago
  I agree, I stand all day as well. My choice of footwear is a pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes (http://www.vivobarefoot.com http://www.vivobarefoot.com). On a side note for my standup desk I built a plywood and 2x4 surface that sits on top of my desk -- it looks a lot like a coffee table on the desk. The materials were all of $15. Edit: Here is a pic of my desk http://imgur.com/1woBL http://imgur.com/1woBL
aedocw 16y ago
Completely agree with you. I've been using a standup for about a year now, details here: http://www.localconspiracy.com/2010/08/get-up-stand-up.html http://www.localconspiracy.com/2010/08/get-up-stand-up.html Regarding the feet, barefoot (on a gel mat) is about as good as it gets. But I've been running barefoot for two years now, so my opinion is biased. Since switching to standup, I've almost ZERO back problems. Prior to this, I used to have serious back pain for two or three days at a time, several times a year.

by jordanb 16y ago

unignorant 16y ago

I entirely agree with you, excepting for your comment about shoes. In most circumstances, the best way to avoid foot problems is not to "buy better footware/orthotics" but rather to strengthen your feet. If you are skeptical, look into the "minimalist" running movement. There is quite a bit of research which suggests that the human foot is itself a better support system than any external aid. The problem is that, living as most people do, their foot muscles have atrophied. I stand barefoot on hardwood all day long.

staticshock 16y ago
How have you strengthened your feet?
- jnorthrop 16y ago
  If you wear shoes without arch support and have flexible soles (or go barefoot) your feet with strengthen themselves by having to work just to keep you upright.
  - patricklynch 16y ago
    Absolutely agree. I made the switch to more minimalist footwear shortly after reading a relevant article two years ago.[1] If it were socially acceptable to wear Vibram fivefingers where I work, that's what I'd do. Since that's not really an option, I wear Puma sneakers (the 'replicat' line doesn't have a huge heel cushion) without an insert. And then at home I work standing up, barefoot. If you're looking for new footwear options, a few places are now selling, ironically, 'barefoot' sneakers. [2, 3] [1] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-... [2] http://www.vivobarefoot.com/ http://www.vivobarefoot.com/ [3] http://www.merrell.com/US/en/Barefoot http://www.merrell.com/US/en/Barefoot
- unignorant 16y ago
  I agree with jnorthrop. Although if you want to be a bit more hardcore about it, you might try a few (short) barefoot runs each week. In this latter case, however, be careful. It's easy to do "to much too soon."
jnorthrop 16y ago
I agree, I stand all day as well. My choice of footwear is a pair of Vivo Barefoot shoes (http://www.vivobarefoot.com http://www.vivobarefoot.com). On a side note for my standup desk I built a plywood and 2x4 surface that sits on top of my desk -- it looks a lot like a coffee table on the desk. The materials were all of $15. Edit: Here is a pic of my desk http://imgur.com/1woBL http://imgur.com/1woBL

aedocw 16y ago

Completely agree with you. I've been using a standup for about a year now, details here: http://www.localconspiracy.com/2010/08/get-up-stand-up.html http://www.localconspiracy.com/2010/08/get-up-stand-up.html Regarding the feet, barefoot (on a gel mat) is about as good as it gets. But I've been running barefoot for two years now, so my opinion is biased. Since switching to standup, I've almost ZERO back problems. Prior to this, I used to have serious back pain for two or three days at a time, several times a year.