6 ms·

Standing desks are on the rise

113 points by matan_a 15y ago

redsymbol 15y ago
I found an easy way to try this out a couple of weeks ago: five cinder blocks. Stacked three high to hold the monitor, and two high to hold the keyboard. Their mass forms a very solid support, yet it's light enough to use on almost any desk. I needed to find a separate small stand for the optical mouse too, and I do sometimes wish I had a little more surface area at keyboard height. Still, it's cheaper and easier to install than a dedicated standing desk... and very easy to "uninstall" if you change your mind. If you try this, be sure to put a piece of cloth or paper underneath the blocks, so that they don't scratch the desk surface. You also will probably want to get something decorative to cover the blocks; molded concrete isn't the most attractive office decor :)
- slackerIII 15y ago
  Reams of copier paper are also great for propping up your monitor. No scratching and easy to find in a lot of offices.
beej71 15y ago
I have a standing desk, and my biggest problem is sore foot soles, of all things. Fixed with lots of foam padding underfoot.
lowglow 15y ago
They're called workbenches and have been around for years.
- rjd 15y ago
  Yeah I picked a nice cartography desk setup for $1 each a few years ago. People where just ditching them. I had one set up for standing, and a second set low for computer (so my rising chair could be used). Following all the rage around these I might look at grabbing a tall saddle stool and adjust the computer desk unto standing height as well.
- wyclif 15y ago
  Yes, workbenches. Here's an example of what I think is a good option, with adjustable height: http://goo.gl/atffO http://goo.gl/atffO
Hyena 15y ago
I set up a standing configuration yesterday by putting a side table atop my desk and it's been great. If I keep liking it, I'll do a more complete solution that actually costs me money.
mbh 15y ago
I think the most ideal would be a desk which can be moved up or down via a mechanical handle bar. I have seen them in practice. That way if you get too tired you can lower it and sit.
- Hisoka 15y ago
  Geek Desk is the standing desk I own, and you can lower or raise it.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- parbo 15y ago
  No, the motorized ones are better. There are desks with memories for different heights, so you just push a button. Those are nice.
- technomancy 15y ago
  I just have a recliner next to my standing desk.
  - zacharycohn 15y ago
    Same here. I tend to cycle between my homemade standing desk (a chest with two amazon fresh boxes on it), my 70s style recliner chair, and a couch.
- wyclif 15y ago
  I agree. Fewer moving parts and nothing to replace. Sounds like good engineering to me. I have looked around a lot at various options and nobody is really making what I want: a large, simple, workbench-like standing desk with lever hand adjustment (no electrical motors or power needed) with an additional fine adjustment so you can elevate the surface of the desk precisely.
rhygar 15y ago
Varicose Veins are on the rise.
- niels_olson 15y ago
  Doc here. True. However, the societal health care burdens of obesity and chronic back pain are far higher than varicosities. Personally, I opt for the standing desk and a bar stool on standby if I want a break. Occupational standing is probably the number one risk factor for varicosities, even ahead of gender http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21846281 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21846281 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14531170 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14531170 However, the role of prolonged sitting on varicosities (mechanistically plausible due to such factors as pelvic venous congestion and increased intraabdominal pressure) is simply unknown. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12934754 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12934754
stephenjudkins 15y ago
I've been loving my adjustable desk. I spent the majority of my time standing, but sometimes it's great to sit down. I purchased a (relatively) inexpensive hand-cranked base from http://www.kitchensource.com/table-bases/gb-1000-1001.htm http://www.kitchensource.com/table-bases/gb-1000-1001.htm. I also got a cheap ($30) 48" x 24" x 2" wooden tabletop which I was able to sand, finish, and easily mount to the base. I added a desk-mounted monitor arm (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBGI http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBGI). The price for all of this compares extremely favorably to most other adjustable desks I've found. This setup has been a huge help for my back issues. If I were to try to quantify the cost of having a sore back that renders me unable to be active, it'd be vastly higher than what I payed for this setup. If I am offered a position where I need to go into an office, I would make offering me a similar setup a precondition of me accepting the offer.
raldi 15y ago
I recently got a standing desk and quite enjoy it. They are definitely viral; once a few people get them in an office, everybody wants one. I even wrote a set of Perl scripts to keep track of how much time I spend sitting vs. standing, and how it changes over time. The only problem is that I don't know of any good studies on what stand / sit ratio is medically recommended. Too low and you get back and other muscle problems; too high and you get joint problems.
- astral303 15y ago
  You shouldn't be getting joint problems standing around all day. If you are getting something like that, these issues might be arising from fatiguing of the muscles from having to support yourself standing all day. When your muscles are fatigued, you end up supporting yourself less with the muscle and more with the joint, so you get weird "wear" patterns, things misaligned slightly. For example, the front of the thigh pulls more on the thigh bone than the rear of the thigh. That can cause kneecap soreness (patellofemoral tracking gets all whack). Muscles in your core can fatigue, and they are also essential to maintaining correct posture. The fix in that situation would be to work on basic leg and core strength. A set of ankle weights, straight leg raises, side leg raises, calf raises, some basic "good all around" core exercises (forget the crunches, think plank) can really help you avoid joint-related issues from standing all day.
  - raldi 15y ago
    I'm not feeling joint problems now; I'm concerned about ones later in life. See also: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/13/the-dangers-of-sitting-at-work%E2%80%94and-standing/#ixzz1O43u6dzd http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/13/the-dangers-of-sitting...
    - DanielRibeiro 15y ago
      From a article from two years ago, when this rage wasn't at its peak: http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm
- 15y ago
marknutter 15y ago
Funny, I went as far as the credit card entry form of http://www.geekdesk.com http://www.geekdesk.com today but stopped short of sending the order. I looked for cheaper alternatives, and found http://www.ergodesktop.com http://www.ergodesktop.com, which is still pretty damn spendy. What I want is a solution that's easy to setup, and is portable. I work at a variety of locations and would like some mechanism for turning any surface into a standing workstation. I think I may whip up a few prototypes in my spare time.
- sreitshamer 15y ago
  I made 2 boxes out of plywood and put my desk on them. It was free (I had the scrap plywood). And it wasn't quite high enough (lower back pain) so I added 1x4s until it was high enough. Pretty portable too I guess. You'd need someone to help you lift the desk on/off the blocks.
  - marknutter 15y ago
    Ha. I'm talking portable as in airplane portable.
- thetable 15y ago
  Ikea sells a motorized version of their "Galant" desk for about 500 Euros. You can mount any kind of surface on it. I bought one 3 years ago, and it's great. However, it's not really advertised in any of their catalogs, but I've been told they still carry it and you have to ask for it. Not sure about availability in the US.
- sodiumphosphate 15y ago
  On portability... I've been thinking that a laptop tripod would be nice. Googling around, I see that there are some out there, but they are too short and look too flimsy. I think a solution could be rigged up with a good, sturdy surveying tripod.
  - oostevo 15y ago
    I've only seen a few models of surveying tripods, but the ones that I did see didn't have locking legs. Their stability comes from points on the bottom of the tripod legs which you drive into the ground when setting up the tripod. I'd imagine driving three stakes into your floor at home wouldn't be optimal for you. You could probably find a used astronomy tripod (used to hold a large telescope and then position it precisely) that's out of spec for astronomy use but that would hold your laptop just fine.
bajsejohannes 15y ago
Reading this reminds of pg's article about how PR works: http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html It reads as an ad as much as a newspaper article.
- biot 15y ago
  Before clicking through, based on the title alone I was fully expecting a quote from a manufacturer on how they're selling desks like hotcakes, but didn't see any desk brands mentioned which surprised me.
  - markmccraw 15y ago
    If it's actually a PR plant, being in the top results (or ad I suppose) in Google for related queries might be enough. Unlike the suits example from the essay, people looking for standing desks probably aren't going to go to a local store and instead will use the Internet to look up brands/models and where to buy. Sure, you are sharing with your competitor, but if it's the difference between the story getting published or not it would still be worth it.
webstermath 15y ago
Just built my own. Nice to see silicon valley following my example.
zach 15y ago
When I moved into an empty office last year to work on my startup, I had a dilemma. I didn't have a desk or chair. At my last couple jobs I had an Aeron and I knew that a good ergonomic chair is worth the expense. I haven't had back problems and I like it that way. I wanted to get a "good" chair like a Leap but, as a cheapskate, I didn't want to spend the $400 they cost (used of course). So instead, I cut the Gordian knot and spent the money on the desk instead of the chair. I managed to score a well-used custom standing desk and barstool-height chair on Craigslist. Paired with a thin standing mat, it's been awesome and has even helped me sleep better. The sore feet at the end of long days went away after a month, I'm always shifting position and I generally feel like I have more energy. Standing or perching on a stool both feel better than sitting and you never have that "I have to get back up? I just sat down!" feeling. I haven't missed flopping into that desk-chair gravity well, so adjustable height isn't that exciting. If you think you want to stand, go for it.
deweller 15y ago
I switched to a standing desk 3 months ago. It has been a great thing for me. My thoughts to those who want to try it: + Give it time. The first 3 days were hard. After a week, it started to feel normal. + Get some padding. I'm using a cheap Yoga mat. I've heard gel mats are ideal. + Suck in that gut. If you practice keeping your lower stomach muscles tight when you start. This will help your back muscles learn to be straight. + Put both feet on the ground. Leaning on one leg isn't good. + Move around. Sway from side to side. Pick your feet up regularly. This helps keep your body and legs healthy.
- evro 15y ago
  I found an old half medicine ball (not sure what it's called) laying around my parents house and I stand on it at my desk. It felt weird at first but I'm used to it now and it seems to keep my muscles working.I'm not sure exactly what it'll do to me in the long run though.
tomjen3 15y ago
I have wanted one for some time, especially with the threadmill attached (I never get any exercise ever, so it would be a cheap way to get into shape and properly be my only real chance). For those of you who already have a standing chair, how often do you use it in the standing position versus sitting down? How long time does it take to get use to using a standing chair?
tomjen3 15y ago
I have wanted one for some time, especially with the threadmill attached (I never get any exercise ever, so it would be a cheap way to get into shape and properly be my only real chance). For those of you who already have a standing chair, how often do you use it in the standing position versus sitting down? How long time does it take to get use to using a standing chair?
imperialWicket 15y ago
For the viral popularity of stand up desks, the available products leave much to be desired. The general consensus in the comments is that a few of the offerings are great, but quite expensive for what they offer. I recently joined the crew of diy stand-up deskers with this: https://plus.google.com/105852617539894761688/posts/F4sN8nUdQMK https://plus.google.com/105852617539894761688/posts/F4sN8nUd... By my specs you get shelves/desktop 48" wide, where you have one 28" deep desktop, one 24" deep large shelf, one 14" deep display shelf, and two 12" deep accessory shelves. It's pretty modular, so you can configure however you like. It is nowhere near as adjustable as something like the geekdesk, but for about $300 you could build two...
- michaelbuckbee 15y ago
  That looks pretty cool. What's on the adjustable arm to the left of the desk? Mic?
  - imperialWicket 15y ago
    Thanks, it definitely meets my needs. The arm is a halogen lamp. I forgot to mention the build supports desk heights from 30" to 52".
michaelbuckbee 15y ago
I investigated the different standing desk options and found most of them lacking for my requirements. The biggest obstacles were that I'm 6'4" tall and need a desk that can support 3 big monitors. I ended up making my own (admittedly non on the fly adjustable) standing desk out of shelf track - the closet shelf system they sell at Home Depot or wherever. My keyboard shelf is 40 inches high and the monitor shelf is 52 inches high. Total costs were around $100 and it only took an evening to put together. [EDIT] - Pics of build and final desk at - https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/3175742/1/StandingDesk?h=8d1c44 https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/3175742/1/StandingDesk?h=8d1...
- imperialWicket 15y ago
  Very nice. I thought about shelf systems, but none of the standalone options seemed nice enough (I rent, and wanted to stay away from drilling into the walls). Here are a few more pics of what I ended up with: http://imperialwicket.com/diy-adjustable-stand-up-desk-for-under-175 http://imperialwicket.com/diy-adjustable-stand-up-desk-for-u...
- deweller 15y ago
  I care! But alas, dropbox is giving me that 403 error.
- tseabrooks 15y ago
  I'd love to see this pic and maybe a small write up for people that'd use this desk at the 100$ price point. Can we get this link fixed?
- sbochins 15y ago
  I was thinking of doing the same thing. Would like to see the pic for inspiration/ideas, if possible.
- michaelbuckbee 15y ago
  Fixed the link to point to the dropbox gallery for the standing desk. Sorry about that.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
jarin 15y ago
I'm addicted to the L-shaped IKEA Galant desks, so I just extended the legs all the way and then put a bunch of my old PHP and Flex books underneath for extra height. I find it helps significantly to raise the monitor so that the top edge is at eye level. You definitely need some kind of stool to sit on occasionally, or it is very tempting to just go back to a sitting desk.
kristiandupont 15y ago
I was considering getting a Milk table (http://www.milk.dk/ http://www.milk.dk/). I know the guy who designed it and it's awesome but I decided against it because of the column in the middle. I need to stretch my legs. So I bought an X12 instead (http://www.holmris.com/htm/..%5Chtm%5Csortiment%5Cx12%5Cx12.html http://www.holmris.com/htm/..%5Chtm%5Csortiment%5Cx12%5Cx12....). Both of these are from Denmark and for the past 14 years of working as a software developer there, I have always had adjustable desks. They are simply everywhere and it was only recently that I realized that this is not the situation world wide (I currently live in Spain and I had to order mine from Denmark!). This makes me wonder if there is an untapped market in, say, the US for these? I could never go back and I think most people who have tried wouldn't. It's not only the matter of standing up -- just making small adjustments during the day when you change position a bit feels really good and I am sure is good for the back etc.
- johnyzee 15y ago
  I'm Danish and have often wondered about this too - there are so many options here for electric height adjustable desks and everyone has them, from banks to car dealerships. I would never work somewhere that didn't offer this, I even got one for my home office: http://imgur.com/A1eS2 http://imgur.com/A1eS2. Set me back about a thousand dollars, about what I spent on a cell phone every other few months. Mine is from http://www.conset.dk http://www.conset.dk (Danish) by the way. Huge selection of frames (one, two or more columns) and you specify your tabletop yourself (size, position and dimensions of the cut-in, bezel, finishing (oak/maple/cherry)), all online.
typicalrunt 15y ago
I switched to a standing desk a year ago and love it. I didn't want to invest too much into it at first, since I didn't know if I'd like it, so I got the Fredrik desk from IKEA (~$149). http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60141484 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60141484 I'm just over 6' tall and it work perfectly for me. The only detraction is that you cannot adjust the height after you build the desk (unless you take it apart again).
teaspoon 15y ago
I decided to prototype a standing desk before buying, to make sure it was something I'd really use. The prototype is just a cardboard science fair display on top of an adjustable keyboard stand: http://distillery.s3.amazonaws.com/media/2011/06/22/f59c2c497a0a4d6192392d8dfa13960e_7.jpg http://distillery.s3.amazonaws.com/media/2011/06/22/f59c2c49... It actually fits me so well that I haven't bothered to upgrade.
- dmix 15y ago
  That looks like it would be painful on the neck after a couple of hours. Id recommend getting a monitor and keeping it at eye level.
saturdaysaint 15y ago
It's too bad that kneeling chairs are often unmentioned in these discussions - they offer the main benefit of the standing desk (a natural/healthy position for the spine) with much less cost (< $100), set-up and foot/joint strain. You can see a variety of these with a simple Google image search. Your legs just rest comfortably underneath your body, so you don't strain your back trying to counterbalance your leg (the main problem with chairs). I have a cheapo office chair and a $75 kneeling chair that I switch between (basically just when I feel any twinge of discomfort). After getting used to this setup, I don't really have any back pain.
- fceccon 15y ago
  I agree, I bought a Varier Balans five months ago and it improved my posture a lot and I don't have back pain anymore. The first weeks I had some knee pain though, now I try to remember to stretch the legs every half an hour.
georgieporgie 15y ago
Here is my ASCII art rendition of my sub $50 standing desk, from the side and from the front: +-- ---------- <== monitor platform | | | --| +----+ <== keyboard platform | | | | +----+ <== cross-brace --+-- | | It consists of 2x4s for the frame and two pine boards for the platforms. The base legs are 30" long. The uprights on the sides are now 48.5" tall. The space between the uprights is 36", spanned near the bottom by a 2x4 (originally, I used an Ikea X-brace, but it's a PITA getting it set up without bonking your head without a solid cross-piece to start with). The upper monitor/laptop deck is a 48" long, 16" deep, 3/4" thick pine board. It's wide so that I can fit multiple monitors, though I'm finding that a single monitor is better for my neck (less twisting). The keyboard platform is a 36" long, 16" deep, 3/4" thick pine board. These are laminated boards, consisting of several strips glued together. They're sold shrink-wrapped at home stores and you can get them paint grade or stain grade. The keyboard platform is about 44.5" off the ground, and they monitor platform is about 53.25". I currently have about 9" height difference between the keyboard and monitor platforms, which works well for the monitor and monitor stand I'm using (a swinging stand from Monoprice). The keyboard and monitor platforms are supported by L-brackets made out of glued-and-screwed 2x4s. I made it a point to support the pine boards for about 3/4" of their depth, so that they don't break under stress. Here is a crude drawing of the L-brackets which support the monitor and keyboard platforms: +------+ | * | <== asterisks are drilled holes |--+---+ | *| / <== 45-degree cut block for extra bracing +--+/ Currently, the platforms have holes drilled, and put two bolts through each end to the L-brackets (the bolts screw into threaded inserts which I put into the L-brackets - Google "threaded wood insert"). Then, the L-brackets are through-bolted to the uprights. I built this particular desk so that I can disassemble it. As such, it uses a series of holes drilled 1" apart in the uprights and the L-brackets. This allows me to move the platforms up and down. Of course, it turns out that this is a bit silly, since the holes don't really line up all that well (i.e. get out the hammer and whack away to get that bolt in), and once I found the position I like, it's not moving. If I were doing this over again, I would use several QuickGrip clamps (and maybe a drilled hole + a screw for safety) to hold everything together while I figure out the geometry, then I would run just drill the necessary bolt holes at that point. As it stands right now, the desk is a bit wobbly (the monitor sways very slightly as I'm typing this). Using the Ikea metal cross-brace will probably help with that. A simpler solution (which would be important in earthquake-prone areas, btw) would be a small L-bracket at the back of the monitor stand, screwed into the wall behind the desk.
xxpor 15y ago
Amazon has had these for a long time. They are just the normal door desk with longer legs. They are no frills. Just a door, with 4 (4inx4in?) wooden legs attached. I loved the look of them when I was there this summer.
shriphani 15y ago
I wanted to get a standing desk. Does anyone have experience with one of those desks in hospitals that are used to serve meals to patients ? That would be a solid piece of furniture for me. Edit : I mean something like this : http://www.amazon.com/Invacare-Over-Bed-Table/dp/B000QA0EHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314912099&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Invacare-Over-Bed-Table/dp/B000QA0EHI/...
- michaels0620 15y ago
  While not flimsy, they do not need much pressure to deform and flex. If you type heavily the table may bounce a bit. Not much, but enough to be distracting. Keeping your laptop closer to the side with support might help.
- beagle3 15y ago
  Got one of these 4 months ago. Works perfectly well, as long as you only put a laptop + mouse + mousepad on it. Put the weight (e.g. the laptop) on the support side. Make sure what you put on it does not slip easily, e.g. by putting an anti-slip rubber on it - when it is extended to maximum height, a small bump in the leg area could send stuff gliding otherwise. Also, the wheel locks are far from perfect. Doesn't bother me much, but don't expect the table to be still.
ed209 15y ago
I tried it for a week and enjoyed it, but I needed to split the time with sitting too. On the hunt for an electric height adjustable as my current setup is not practical! https://plus.google.com/109940267018696224506/posts/B144cQj7cBn https://plus.google.com/109940267018696224506/posts/B144cQj7...
jwwest 15y ago
Standing desks seem to be the new fad. I don't believe that sitting for 10+ hours a day is healthy, but I don't believe that standing that long is healthy either. The bigger problem lie in what motivates us to spend so long at our desks without breaks. I think there's a culture of "strap the developer to his chair" that we need to break out of. If you're taking breaks every 2 to 3 hours to stand up, get a drink and walk around a while, I can't really see it being as bad as everyone's making it out to be.
- subsection1h 15y ago
  I don't believe that standing that long is healthy either. You're right, which is why many people with standing desks alternate between sitting and standing. Some use motorized standing desks and others, such as myself, use tall chairs.
- ranebo 15y ago
  I'm a lot more likely to take a break from standing than I am from sitting. I've had a standing desk for the last 2 years (ikea fredrik mentioned in another comment) and find I walk away from the desk much more often than I did while sitting. Even with the increased breaks, I think I am more productive.
wyclif 15y ago
I am interested in starting a company that builds and sells standing desks. I'm a technical guy, but ideally I'm looking for a partner who knows far more than I do about marketing, manufacturing, and supply-chain logistics. My goal is to do it lean startup-style, and develop an MVP first. My email is in my profile, or reply in this thread. What do you want from a standing desk? What would get you to buy a standing desk?
hugs 15y ago
I recently got into building with grid beam. (Found out about it at a Maker Faire.) Consider grid beam an open source version of Erector Sets or a life-size Lego Technic. Building your own standing desk out of grid beam would be the super cool thing to do. Grid beam is a very old idea, but I think it's due for a comeback. Maybe DIY standing desks is the killer app?
- mathgladiator 15y ago
  Wow, I love the idea; thanks for turning me onto grid beams. I need them!
  - hugs 15y ago
    Yeah, grid beam is (alas) a highly underrated tech. I've also created my own version recently -- a Lego Technic compatible version I'm calling "bitbeam" - bitbeam.org. Don't know where it'll go, but it sure is fun!
measure2xcut1x 15y ago
I used a standing desk with eye level dual monitors on clamp-on arms for 45 days this summer. I felt like a check-in person at an airline. I found it uncomfortable in my lower legs but I think it was better for my spine and hip alignment. Since I have gone back to the chair I am more productive. See occupational hazards of standing at work: http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm
prg318 15y ago
I put my keyboard on top of my iMac and just stand up at work sometimes. Works just as well. Sitting for so long cannot be healthy.
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
brendoncrawford 15y ago
I had a local carpenter build me a custom standing desk for about $300 including supplies. This is IMO the best way to go for the value.
CoffeeDregs 15y ago
I'm a fan of using standing desks and wanted to figure out how to convert my home desk [which had 4x4" wooden legs] to a standing desk. I did so by: getting 4 12" 4x4s; nailing beam caps (http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/BC.asp http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/BC.asp) onto one end of the 4x4s; lifting the desk while my wife slipped the 12" 4x4s under the desk legs. $30 and 15 minutes work -> nice wooden desk -> standing desk. * Note: I didn't attach the beam connectors to the desk legs since my desk is lodged in a corner and I didn't want to mess with the legs, but I'd recommend attaching them...
mechanical_fish 15y ago
I see nobody has mentioned the Ergotron Workfit yet. I am very pleased with mine. I think the adjustability, allowing you to move from sitting to standing at a moment's notice, is pretty important. If it weren't for that the various DIY solutions would be as much as you really need.
robot 15y ago
Standing for long periods of time negatively affects your blood circulation and may cause varicosis. Not that sitting eight hours a day is healtier, but its one hidden risk of standing that you should know.
- xtracto 15y ago
  Yeah, both my mother and my father are biologists who do a lot of laboratory work. They, along with chemist friend have told me that one typical health issue in laboratories is circulation problems due to extended standing periods. That's why I approached the half and half idea of standing/sitting for my work :)
rwmj 15y ago
My treadmill desk: https://rwmj.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/treadmill-desk-part-6-hopefully-the-final-summary/ https://rwmj.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/treadmill-desk-part-6-... Yes I'm still using it, about 1 year after making it. I moved it to a different part of the house so I can look out of the window though :-)
PakG1 15y ago
I just purchased some shelving parts from Ikea and made my own. It's supposed to be a bookshelf, but it works great as a standing desk. I love it. Had to buy a mat for my feet though. My floor is hardwood, and I was surprised by how much my feet hurt!
sodiumphosphate 15y ago
I work in my bedroom with a notebook computer. It took no convincing for me to throw out the desk and chair, because I was so weary of sitting all day. My solution is simple. I slapped a desk top onto my chest of drawers, with a nonslip mat underneath to keep it from sliding. Pardon me for not running to grab the measuring tape, but it's at about my elbow height (I'm 6'2"). I stand at it most of the day, and when I get tired I just unplug everything and move to my bed for awhile. I can't take my external display to bed, but so far that's never really bothered me. I think later on I may get crazy with some square steel tubing, and build myself a standing monstrosity.

113 points by matan_a 15y ago

I found an easy way to try this out a couple of weeks ago: five cinder blocks. Stacked three high to hold the monitor, and two high to hold the keyboard. Their mass forms a very solid support, yet it's light enough to use on almost any desk. I needed to find a separate small stand for the optical mouse too, and I do sometimes wish I had a little more surface area at keyboard height. Still, it's cheaper and easier to install than a dedicated standing desk... and very easy to "uninstall" if you change your mind. If you try this, be sure to put a piece of cloth or paper underneath the blocks, so that they don't scratch the desk surface. You also will probably want to get something decorative to cover the blocks; molded concrete isn't the most attractive office decor :)

slackerIII 15y ago
Reams of copier paper are also great for propping up your monitor. No scratching and easy to find in a lot of offices.

beej71 15y ago

I have a standing desk, and my biggest problem is sore foot soles, of all things. Fixed with lots of foam padding underfoot.

lowglow 15y ago

They're called workbenches and have been around for years.

rjd 15y ago
Yeah I picked a nice cartography desk setup for $1 each a few years ago. People where just ditching them. I had one set up for standing, and a second set low for computer (so my rising chair could be used). Following all the rage around these I might look at grabbing a tall saddle stool and adjust the computer desk unto standing height as well.
wyclif 15y ago
Yes, workbenches. Here's an example of what I think is a good option, with adjustable height: http://goo.gl/atffO http://goo.gl/atffO

Hyena 15y ago

I set up a standing configuration yesterday by putting a side table atop my desk and it's been great. If I keep liking it, I'll do a more complete solution that actually costs me money.

mbh 15y ago

I think the most ideal would be a desk which can be moved up or down via a mechanical handle bar. I have seen them in practice. That way if you get too tired you can lower it and sit.

Hisoka 15y ago
Geek Desk is the standing desk I own, and you can lower or raise it.
deleted 15y ago
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parbo 15y ago
No, the motorized ones are better. There are desks with memories for different heights, so you just push a button. Those are nice.
technomancy 15y ago
I just have a recliner next to my standing desk.
- zacharycohn 15y ago
  Same here. I tend to cycle between my homemade standing desk (a chest with two amazon fresh boxes on it), my 70s style recliner chair, and a couch.
wyclif 15y ago
I agree. Fewer moving parts and nothing to replace. Sounds like good engineering to me. I have looked around a lot at various options and nobody is really making what I want: a large, simple, workbench-like standing desk with lever hand adjustment (no electrical motors or power needed) with an additional fine adjustment so you can elevate the surface of the desk precisely.

rhygar 15y ago

Varicose Veins are on the rise.

niels_olson 15y ago
Doc here. True. However, the societal health care burdens of obesity and chronic back pain are far higher than varicosities. Personally, I opt for the standing desk and a bar stool on standby if I want a break. Occupational standing is probably the number one risk factor for varicosities, even ahead of gender http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21846281 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21846281 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14531170 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14531170 However, the role of prolonged sitting on varicosities (mechanistically plausible due to such factors as pelvic venous congestion and increased intraabdominal pressure) is simply unknown. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12934754 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12934754

stephenjudkins 15y ago

I've been loving my adjustable desk. I spent the majority of my time standing, but sometimes it's great to sit down. I purchased a (relatively) inexpensive hand-cranked base from http://www.kitchensource.com/table-bases/gb-1000-1001.htm http://www.kitchensource.com/table-bases/gb-1000-1001.htm. I also got a cheap ($30) 48" x 24" x 2" wooden tabletop which I was able to sand, finish, and easily mount to the base. I added a desk-mounted monitor arm (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBGI http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IWOBGI). The price for all of this compares extremely favorably to most other adjustable desks I've found. This setup has been a huge help for my back issues. If I were to try to quantify the cost of having a sore back that renders me unable to be active, it'd be vastly higher than what I payed for this setup. If I am offered a position where I need to go into an office, I would make offering me a similar setup a precondition of me accepting the offer.

raldi 15y ago

I recently got a standing desk and quite enjoy it. They are definitely viral; once a few people get them in an office, everybody wants one. I even wrote a set of Perl scripts to keep track of how much time I spend sitting vs. standing, and how it changes over time. The only problem is that I don't know of any good studies on what stand / sit ratio is medically recommended. Too low and you get back and other muscle problems; too high and you get joint problems.

astral303 15y ago
You shouldn't be getting joint problems standing around all day. If you are getting something like that, these issues might be arising from fatiguing of the muscles from having to support yourself standing all day. When your muscles are fatigued, you end up supporting yourself less with the muscle and more with the joint, so you get weird "wear" patterns, things misaligned slightly. For example, the front of the thigh pulls more on the thigh bone than the rear of the thigh. That can cause kneecap soreness (patellofemoral tracking gets all whack). Muscles in your core can fatigue, and they are also essential to maintaining correct posture. The fix in that situation would be to work on basic leg and core strength. A set of ankle weights, straight leg raises, side leg raises, calf raises, some basic "good all around" core exercises (forget the crunches, think plank) can really help you avoid joint-related issues from standing all day.
- raldi 15y ago
  I'm not feeling joint problems now; I'm concerned about ones later in life. See also: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/13/the-dangers-of-sitting-at-work%E2%80%94and-standing/#ixzz1O43u6dzd http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/13/the-dangers-of-sitting...
  - DanielRibeiro 15y ago
    From a article from two years ago, when this rage wasn't at its peak: http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm
15y ago

marknutter 15y ago

Funny, I went as far as the credit card entry form of http://www.geekdesk.com http://www.geekdesk.com today but stopped short of sending the order. I looked for cheaper alternatives, and found http://www.ergodesktop.com http://www.ergodesktop.com, which is still pretty damn spendy. What I want is a solution that's easy to setup, and is portable. I work at a variety of locations and would like some mechanism for turning any surface into a standing workstation. I think I may whip up a few prototypes in my spare time.

sreitshamer 15y ago
I made 2 boxes out of plywood and put my desk on them. It was free (I had the scrap plywood). And it wasn't quite high enough (lower back pain) so I added 1x4s until it was high enough. Pretty portable too I guess. You'd need someone to help you lift the desk on/off the blocks.
- marknutter 15y ago
  Ha. I'm talking portable as in airplane portable.
thetable 15y ago
Ikea sells a motorized version of their "Galant" desk for about 500 Euros. You can mount any kind of surface on it. I bought one 3 years ago, and it's great. However, it's not really advertised in any of their catalogs, but I've been told they still carry it and you have to ask for it. Not sure about availability in the US.
sodiumphosphate 15y ago
On portability... I've been thinking that a laptop tripod would be nice. Googling around, I see that there are some out there, but they are too short and look too flimsy. I think a solution could be rigged up with a good, sturdy surveying tripod.
- oostevo 15y ago
  I've only seen a few models of surveying tripods, but the ones that I did see didn't have locking legs. Their stability comes from points on the bottom of the tripod legs which you drive into the ground when setting up the tripod. I'd imagine driving three stakes into your floor at home wouldn't be optimal for you. You could probably find a used astronomy tripod (used to hold a large telescope and then position it precisely) that's out of spec for astronomy use but that would hold your laptop just fine.

bajsejohannes 15y ago

Reading this reminds of pg's article about how PR works: http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html It reads as an ad as much as a newspaper article.

biot 15y ago
Before clicking through, based on the title alone I was fully expecting a quote from a manufacturer on how they're selling desks like hotcakes, but didn't see any desk brands mentioned which surprised me.
- markmccraw 15y ago
  If it's actually a PR plant, being in the top results (or ad I suppose) in Google for related queries might be enough. Unlike the suits example from the essay, people looking for standing desks probably aren't going to go to a local store and instead will use the Internet to look up brands/models and where to buy. Sure, you are sharing with your competitor, but if it's the difference between the story getting published or not it would still be worth it.

webstermath 15y ago

Just built my own. Nice to see silicon valley following my example.

zach 15y ago

When I moved into an empty office last year to work on my startup, I had a dilemma. I didn't have a desk or chair. At my last couple jobs I had an Aeron and I knew that a good ergonomic chair is worth the expense. I haven't had back problems and I like it that way. I wanted to get a "good" chair like a Leap but, as a cheapskate, I didn't want to spend the $400 they cost (used of course). So instead, I cut the Gordian knot and spent the money on the desk instead of the chair. I managed to score a well-used custom standing desk and barstool-height chair on Craigslist. Paired with a thin standing mat, it's been awesome and has even helped me sleep better. The sore feet at the end of long days went away after a month, I'm always shifting position and I generally feel like I have more energy. Standing or perching on a stool both feel better than sitting and you never have that "I have to get back up? I just sat down!" feeling. I haven't missed flopping into that desk-chair gravity well, so adjustable height isn't that exciting. If you think you want to stand, go for it.

deweller 15y ago

I switched to a standing desk 3 months ago. It has been a great thing for me. My thoughts to those who want to try it: + Give it time. The first 3 days were hard. After a week, it started to feel normal. + Get some padding. I'm using a cheap Yoga mat. I've heard gel mats are ideal. + Suck in that gut. If you practice keeping your lower stomach muscles tight when you start. This will help your back muscles learn to be straight. + Put both feet on the ground. Leaning on one leg isn't good. + Move around. Sway from side to side. Pick your feet up regularly. This helps keep your body and legs healthy.

evro 15y ago
I found an old half medicine ball (not sure what it's called) laying around my parents house and I stand on it at my desk. It felt weird at first but I'm used to it now and it seems to keep my muscles working.I'm not sure exactly what it'll do to me in the long run though.

tomjen3 15y ago

I have wanted one for some time, especially with the threadmill attached (I never get any exercise ever, so it would be a cheap way to get into shape and properly be my only real chance). For those of you who already have a standing chair, how often do you use it in the standing position versus sitting down? How long time does it take to get use to using a standing chair?

tomjen3 15y ago

imperialWicket 15y ago

For the viral popularity of stand up desks, the available products leave much to be desired. The general consensus in the comments is that a few of the offerings are great, but quite expensive for what they offer. I recently joined the crew of diy stand-up deskers with this: https://plus.google.com/105852617539894761688/posts/F4sN8nUdQMK https://plus.google.com/105852617539894761688/posts/F4sN8nUd... By my specs you get shelves/desktop 48" wide, where you have one 28" deep desktop, one 24" deep large shelf, one 14" deep display shelf, and two 12" deep accessory shelves. It's pretty modular, so you can configure however you like. It is nowhere near as adjustable as something like the geekdesk, but for about $300 you could build two...

michaelbuckbee 15y ago
That looks pretty cool. What's on the adjustable arm to the left of the desk? Mic?
- imperialWicket 15y ago
  Thanks, it definitely meets my needs. The arm is a halogen lamp. I forgot to mention the build supports desk heights from 30" to 52".

michaelbuckbee 15y ago

I investigated the different standing desk options and found most of them lacking for my requirements. The biggest obstacles were that I'm 6'4" tall and need a desk that can support 3 big monitors. I ended up making my own (admittedly non on the fly adjustable) standing desk out of shelf track - the closet shelf system they sell at Home Depot or wherever. My keyboard shelf is 40 inches high and the monitor shelf is 52 inches high. Total costs were around $100 and it only took an evening to put together. [EDIT] - Pics of build and final desk at - https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/3175742/1/StandingDesk?h=8d1c44 https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/3175742/1/StandingDesk?h=8d1...

imperialWicket 15y ago
Very nice. I thought about shelf systems, but none of the standalone options seemed nice enough (I rent, and wanted to stay away from drilling into the walls). Here are a few more pics of what I ended up with: http://imperialwicket.com/diy-adjustable-stand-up-desk-for-under-175 http://imperialwicket.com/diy-adjustable-stand-up-desk-for-u...
deweller 15y ago
I care! But alas, dropbox is giving me that 403 error.
tseabrooks 15y ago
I'd love to see this pic and maybe a small write up for people that'd use this desk at the 100$ price point. Can we get this link fixed?
sbochins 15y ago
I was thinking of doing the same thing. Would like to see the pic for inspiration/ideas, if possible.
michaelbuckbee 15y ago
Fixed the link to point to the dropbox gallery for the standing desk. Sorry about that.
deleted 15y ago
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jarin 15y ago

I'm addicted to the L-shaped IKEA Galant desks, so I just extended the legs all the way and then put a bunch of my old PHP and Flex books underneath for extra height. I find it helps significantly to raise the monitor so that the top edge is at eye level. You definitely need some kind of stool to sit on occasionally, or it is very tempting to just go back to a sitting desk.

kristiandupont 15y ago

I was considering getting a Milk table (http://www.milk.dk/ http://www.milk.dk/). I know the guy who designed it and it's awesome but I decided against it because of the column in the middle. I need to stretch my legs. So I bought an X12 instead (http://www.holmris.com/htm/..%5Chtm%5Csortiment%5Cx12%5Cx12.html http://www.holmris.com/htm/..%5Chtm%5Csortiment%5Cx12%5Cx12....). Both of these are from Denmark and for the past 14 years of working as a software developer there, I have always had adjustable desks. They are simply everywhere and it was only recently that I realized that this is not the situation world wide (I currently live in Spain and I had to order mine from Denmark!). This makes me wonder if there is an untapped market in, say, the US for these? I could never go back and I think most people who have tried wouldn't. It's not only the matter of standing up -- just making small adjustments during the day when you change position a bit feels really good and I am sure is good for the back etc.

johnyzee 15y ago
I'm Danish and have often wondered about this too - there are so many options here for electric height adjustable desks and everyone has them, from banks to car dealerships. I would never work somewhere that didn't offer this, I even got one for my home office: http://imgur.com/A1eS2 http://imgur.com/A1eS2. Set me back about a thousand dollars, about what I spent on a cell phone every other few months. Mine is from http://www.conset.dk http://www.conset.dk (Danish) by the way. Huge selection of frames (one, two or more columns) and you specify your tabletop yourself (size, position and dimensions of the cut-in, bezel, finishing (oak/maple/cherry)), all online.

typicalrunt 15y ago

I switched to a standing desk a year ago and love it. I didn't want to invest too much into it at first, since I didn't know if I'd like it, so I got the Fredrik desk from IKEA (~$149). http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60141484 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60141484 I'm just over 6' tall and it work perfectly for me. The only detraction is that you cannot adjust the height after you build the desk (unless you take it apart again).

teaspoon 15y ago

I decided to prototype a standing desk before buying, to make sure it was something I'd really use. The prototype is just a cardboard science fair display on top of an adjustable keyboard stand: http://distillery.s3.amazonaws.com/media/2011/06/22/f59c2c497a0a4d6192392d8dfa13960e_7.jpg http://distillery.s3.amazonaws.com/media/2011/06/22/f59c2c49... It actually fits me so well that I haven't bothered to upgrade.

dmix 15y ago
That looks like it would be painful on the neck after a couple of hours. Id recommend getting a monitor and keeping it at eye level.

saturdaysaint 15y ago

It's too bad that kneeling chairs are often unmentioned in these discussions - they offer the main benefit of the standing desk (a natural/healthy position for the spine) with much less cost (< $100), set-up and foot/joint strain. You can see a variety of these with a simple Google image search. Your legs just rest comfortably underneath your body, so you don't strain your back trying to counterbalance your leg (the main problem with chairs). I have a cheapo office chair and a $75 kneeling chair that I switch between (basically just when I feel any twinge of discomfort). After getting used to this setup, I don't really have any back pain.

fceccon 15y ago
I agree, I bought a Varier Balans five months ago and it improved my posture a lot and I don't have back pain anymore. The first weeks I had some knee pain though, now I try to remember to stretch the legs every half an hour.

georgieporgie 15y ago

Here is my ASCII art rendition of my sub $50 standing desk, from the side and from the front: +-- ---------- <== monitor platform | | | --| +----+ <== keyboard platform | | | | +----+ <== cross-brace --+-- | | It consists of 2x4s for the frame and two pine boards for the platforms. The base legs are 30" long. The uprights on the sides are now 48.5" tall. The space between the uprights is 36", spanned near the bottom by a 2x4 (originally, I used an Ikea X-brace, but it's a PITA getting it set up without bonking your head without a solid cross-piece to start with). The upper monitor/laptop deck is a 48" long, 16" deep, 3/4" thick pine board. It's wide so that I can fit multiple monitors, though I'm finding that a single monitor is better for my neck (less twisting). The keyboard platform is a 36" long, 16" deep, 3/4" thick pine board. These are laminated boards, consisting of several strips glued together. They're sold shrink-wrapped at home stores and you can get them paint grade or stain grade. The keyboard platform is about 44.5" off the ground, and they monitor platform is about 53.25". I currently have about 9" height difference between the keyboard and monitor platforms, which works well for the monitor and monitor stand I'm using (a swinging stand from Monoprice). The keyboard and monitor platforms are supported by L-brackets made out of glued-and-screwed 2x4s. I made it a point to support the pine boards for about 3/4" of their depth, so that they don't break under stress. Here is a crude drawing of the L-brackets which support the monitor and keyboard platforms: +------+ | * | <== asterisks are drilled holes |--+---+ | *| / <== 45-degree cut block for extra bracing +--+/ Currently, the platforms have holes drilled, and put two bolts through each end to the L-brackets (the bolts screw into threaded inserts which I put into the L-brackets - Google "threaded wood insert"). Then, the L-brackets are through-bolted to the uprights. I built this particular desk so that I can disassemble it. As such, it uses a series of holes drilled 1" apart in the uprights and the L-brackets. This allows me to move the platforms up and down. Of course, it turns out that this is a bit silly, since the holes don't really line up all that well (i.e. get out the hammer and whack away to get that bolt in), and once I found the position I like, it's not moving. If I were doing this over again, I would use several QuickGrip clamps (and maybe a drilled hole + a screw for safety) to hold everything together while I figure out the geometry, then I would run just drill the necessary bolt holes at that point. As it stands right now, the desk is a bit wobbly (the monitor sways very slightly as I'm typing this). Using the Ikea metal cross-brace will probably help with that. A simpler solution (which would be important in earthquake-prone areas, btw) would be a small L-bracket at the back of the monitor stand, screwed into the wall behind the desk.

xxpor 15y ago

Amazon has had these for a long time. They are just the normal door desk with longer legs. They are no frills. Just a door, with 4 (4inx4in?) wooden legs attached. I loved the look of them when I was there this summer.

shriphani 15y ago

I wanted to get a standing desk. Does anyone have experience with one of those desks in hospitals that are used to serve meals to patients ? That would be a solid piece of furniture for me. Edit : I mean something like this : http://www.amazon.com/Invacare-Over-Bed-Table/dp/B000QA0EHI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314912099&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Invacare-Over-Bed-Table/dp/B000QA0EHI/...

michaels0620 15y ago
While not flimsy, they do not need much pressure to deform and flex. If you type heavily the table may bounce a bit. Not much, but enough to be distracting. Keeping your laptop closer to the side with support might help.
beagle3 15y ago
Got one of these 4 months ago. Works perfectly well, as long as you only put a laptop + mouse + mousepad on it. Put the weight (e.g. the laptop) on the support side. Make sure what you put on it does not slip easily, e.g. by putting an anti-slip rubber on it - when it is extended to maximum height, a small bump in the leg area could send stuff gliding otherwise. Also, the wheel locks are far from perfect. Doesn't bother me much, but don't expect the table to be still.

ed209 15y ago

I tried it for a week and enjoyed it, but I needed to split the time with sitting too. On the hunt for an electric height adjustable as my current setup is not practical! https://plus.google.com/109940267018696224506/posts/B144cQj7cBn https://plus.google.com/109940267018696224506/posts/B144cQj7...

jwwest 15y ago

Standing desks seem to be the new fad. I don't believe that sitting for 10+ hours a day is healthy, but I don't believe that standing that long is healthy either. The bigger problem lie in what motivates us to spend so long at our desks without breaks. I think there's a culture of "strap the developer to his chair" that we need to break out of. If you're taking breaks every 2 to 3 hours to stand up, get a drink and walk around a while, I can't really see it being as bad as everyone's making it out to be.

subsection1h 15y ago
I don't believe that standing that long is healthy either. You're right, which is why many people with standing desks alternate between sitting and standing. Some use motorized standing desks and others, such as myself, use tall chairs.
ranebo 15y ago
I'm a lot more likely to take a break from standing than I am from sitting. I've had a standing desk for the last 2 years (ikea fredrik mentioned in another comment) and find I walk away from the desk much more often than I did while sitting. Even with the increased breaks, I think I am more productive.

wyclif 15y ago

I am interested in starting a company that builds and sells standing desks. I'm a technical guy, but ideally I'm looking for a partner who knows far more than I do about marketing, manufacturing, and supply-chain logistics. My goal is to do it lean startup-style, and develop an MVP first. My email is in my profile, or reply in this thread. What do you want from a standing desk? What would get you to buy a standing desk?

hugs 15y ago

I recently got into building with grid beam. (Found out about it at a Maker Faire.) Consider grid beam an open source version of Erector Sets or a life-size Lego Technic. Building your own standing desk out of grid beam would be the super cool thing to do. Grid beam is a very old idea, but I think it's due for a comeback. Maybe DIY standing desks is the killer app?

mathgladiator 15y ago
Wow, I love the idea; thanks for turning me onto grid beams. I need them!
- hugs 15y ago
  Yeah, grid beam is (alas) a highly underrated tech. I've also created my own version recently -- a Lego Technic compatible version I'm calling "bitbeam" - bitbeam.org. Don't know where it'll go, but it sure is fun!

measure2xcut1x 15y ago

I used a standing desk with eye level dual monitors on clamp-on arms for 45 days this summer. I felt like a check-in person at an airline. I found it uncomfortable in my lower legs but I think it was better for my spine and hip alignment. Since I have gone back to the chair I am more productive. See occupational hazards of standing at work: http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm http://www.hazards.org/standing/index.htm

prg318 15y ago

I put my keyboard on top of my iMac and just stand up at work sometimes. Works just as well. Sitting for so long cannot be healthy.

deleted 15y ago

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brendoncrawford 15y ago

I had a local carpenter build me a custom standing desk for about $300 including supplies. This is IMO the best way to go for the value.

CoffeeDregs 15y ago

I'm a fan of using standing desks and wanted to figure out how to convert my home desk [which had 4x4" wooden legs] to a standing desk. I did so by: getting 4 12" 4x4s; nailing beam caps (http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/BC.asp http://www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/BC.asp) onto one end of the 4x4s; lifting the desk while my wife slipped the 12" 4x4s under the desk legs. $30 and 15 minutes work -> nice wooden desk -> standing desk. * Note: I didn't attach the beam connectors to the desk legs since my desk is lodged in a corner and I didn't want to mess with the legs, but I'd recommend attaching them...

mechanical_fish 15y ago

I see nobody has mentioned the Ergotron Workfit yet. I am very pleased with mine. I think the adjustability, allowing you to move from sitting to standing at a moment's notice, is pretty important. If it weren't for that the various DIY solutions would be as much as you really need.

robot 15y ago

Standing for long periods of time negatively affects your blood circulation and may cause varicosis. Not that sitting eight hours a day is healtier, but its one hidden risk of standing that you should know.

xtracto 15y ago
Yeah, both my mother and my father are biologists who do a lot of laboratory work. They, along with chemist friend have told me that one typical health issue in laboratories is circulation problems due to extended standing periods. That's why I approached the half and half idea of standing/sitting for my work :)

rwmj 15y ago

My treadmill desk: https://rwmj.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/treadmill-desk-part-6-hopefully-the-final-summary/ https://rwmj.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/treadmill-desk-part-6-... Yes I'm still using it, about 1 year after making it. I moved it to a different part of the house so I can look out of the window though :-)

PakG1 15y ago

I just purchased some shelving parts from Ikea and made my own. It's supposed to be a bookshelf, but it works great as a standing desk. I love it. Had to buy a mat for my feet though. My floor is hardwood, and I was surprised by how much my feet hurt!

sodiumphosphate 15y ago

I work in my bedroom with a notebook computer. It took no convincing for me to throw out the desk and chair, because I was so weary of sitting all day. My solution is simple. I slapped a desk top onto my chest of drawers, with a nonslip mat underneath to keep it from sliding. Pardon me for not running to grab the measuring tape, but it's at about my elbow height (I'm 6'2"). I stand at it most of the day, and when I get tired I just unplug everything and move to my bed for awhile. I can't take my external display to bed, but so far that's never really bothered me. I think later on I may get crazy with some square steel tubing, and build myself a standing monstrosity.