7 ms·

Ask HN: Should I get a stand-up desk?

19 points by silent_cal 3y ago

I've been thinking about getting one because I've heard good things, but just wanted to hear from you all about how it might help (or not help) you at work if you've tried one.

gogurt2000 3y ago
A lot of people where I work have one and never stand up at it. I think you should try to find a way to try one for a week or so and see just how often you actually use it standing up.
- Raed667 3y ago
  A lot of people buy running shoes and never go for a run. It is not a statement against good running shoes.
  - Someone1234 3y ago
    It absolutely is and rightfully so. If you see one person buy something then not use it, that's a fact, but if you see a lot of people do the same then it is a pattern. If there is a common pattern of people buying "betterment" products then not using them, you should evaluate why you won't be yet another statistic. I use my standing desk for reference, but the larger point is that a lot of people buy them and then don't use them for whatever reason. Likely don't think through what they're trying to solve and how often throughout the day they think: "wish I was standing right now." This issue is a reason why you should buy the cheap version of whatever it is first, then upgrade when you out-use the cheap one, rather than going all in on those $500 shoes or that $1500 exercise bike. Applied to standing desks: Try a "Standing Desk Converter" or a cheap IKEA standing desk for $300 instead of a high end motorized one for $1K+.
    - Raed667 3y ago
      This might feel logical but i find it counter intuitive. I've seen people suggest to new guitar player to just buy a cheap one just to see how you feel then invest in a good one. Yet a bad guitar will turn off a lot of people who would have kept playing if they had a better quality instrument.
      - dtnewman 3y ago
        Counterpoint - I know plenty of people who go out and buy an expensive guitar (or camera, or bicycle, or <name your hobby equipment>) and it sits around when they discover they don't want to put the time into it. My advice to the OP is to buy something used at a decent price. Chances are that if you don't like it after a month or so, you can sell it for close to what you paid. And if you like it so much after a month or two that you want to upgrade, you can sell it for close to what you paid.
    - nsxwolf 3y ago
      It's a shame IKEA doesn't make the Jerker desk anymore. I have one, and it's probably the greatest desk ever made. You can configure it as a standing desk by unbolting and repositioning the desk on the legs.
      - cooperadymas 3y ago
        I had the jerker desk for a long time, before standing desks were really popular. It was a fantastic desk and I loved using it in the standing position. If I could have found a good ergonomic chair that elevated to standing desk height, I would have loved to continue using it. At the time there were drafting chairs, and task chairs or task stools that would have been at the right height, but nothing really comfortable or ergonomic. Wonder if that's changed now.
  - cooperadymas 3y ago
    Right, you're agreeing with the person you're replying to. The GP did not in any way make a statement against a good standing desk. They encouraged the OP to test it out if possible before committing to ensure they would actually use it in practice.
- theshrike79 3y ago
  They might not stand up at it, but I can bet they've adjusted the sitting height to match them properly instead of just using whatever size static desks are.
dougmwne 3y ago
Yes. Get a motorized one than can go from a low lap height to standing height. Not all the desks have a large enough range so make sure you measure. Your elbows should be at about a 90 deg angle while sitting and standing. Get yourself a cushioned standing mat as well. Get a stand for your monitor too. There are 2 main benefits. The most important one is that your chair and desk can be at the perfect ergonomic height while sitting. Most chairs and desks do not have the ideal height. Even an inch to high or low can cause issues over time. The other benefit is being able to stand. It's good to allow your body to spend time in a different position. And standing is a bit more active and lets your move your muscles and shift your weight around more. I try to stand for an hour or 2 a day, but your feet and hips will get tired if you overdo it. Best to just set yourself an alarm and hit the stand button when it rings, then sit when you get tired. I find it's mostly just habit. It's not a cure for a sedentary lifestyle, but good ergonomics and a little more variety in your work hours is better than nothing.
- silent_cal 3y ago
  Great info, thanks!
- langsoul-com 3y ago
  I second this just for the adjustable height to match your body perfectly. The stand up aspect is not very comfortable so go to a Ikea or a furniture store and try it out. I couldn't stand 3 minutes of that, let alone a few hours.
- rubidium 3y ago
  And the advantage is after covid there are a good number available 2nd hand (craigslist, fb) as some people return to the office and don't want it in their home anymore.
- cooperadymas 3y ago
  I would reinforce the motorized aspect. Trying to save $100 or whatever it may be to get a manual version will kill any gains you hope to achieve. You'll change position 10-100x more frequently if you don't have to deal with the annoying crank every time.
Someone1234 3y ago
I'm using one right now; as to if you should get one: The only major benefit for me is that it allows me to put my body into a different position. Sitting too long in one position causes me aches and pains. I try to keep moving while standing (fidgeting, but on purpose). I'd guess the health benefits are marginal, but the comfort benefits exist. I have a four-legged motorized standing desk which is expensive, but wobbling drives me absolutely nuts, and I just won't do it. It was a major deal-breaker for a long time.
- Mystery-Machine 3y ago
  Turns out that fidgeting burns quite some calories. So I wouldn't say that its health benefits are marginal.
geocrasher 3y ago
You want a sit-stand desk, not just a standing desk.
- cooperadymas 3y ago
  Everyone just calls these standing desks, right? No one actually says "sit-stand desk"? Even Uplift and Ikea use "standing desk" for their height adjustable options.
  - geocrasher 3y ago
    Perhaps so. I've always called them sit-stand desks, because at one point there was a definite difference between the naming of the two.
mejutoco 3y ago
IMO it does not hurt (pun intended) to get a standing desk. I used one at work for a while. Lifting weights now and then got rid of any posture aches in my case. IME it is not needed, but it does no harm.
slothtrop 3y ago
The cheaper option is a desk riser. This can work just as well with a decent model, it just has less aesthetic appeal.
cramjabsyn 3y ago
When I had a job with lots of meetings I would raise my desk up to standing height a lot, but I find it uncomfortable for focus/flow work like coding. So I would raise/lower the desk depending on the task. I'd say if you do a fair amount of meetings give it a try. Ikea makes a powered model that's decent and cheap. The power bricks sometimes fail (they are essentially laptop bricks) but they are warrantied for something like 10 years.
Dachande663 3y ago
I live by a simple axiom: buy the cheapest of a thing you can get away with. If it breaks, you were using it enough, buy the best you can. If it doesn't break, you either weren't using it enough or it's good enough, so stick with it. Obviously this doesn't apply to all things but this is probably a good place to start. Stack a few boxes on your desk and try that for a week.
- steve_adams_86 3y ago
  Something worth considering here is that a good standing desk has no wobble when it’s raised, so if you buy something cheap or DIY something to experiment, keep in mind that the nice version of this is solid, convenient, and precise. In other words, don’t let the experiment ruin your decision based on variables that won’t exist with the real thing.
intellectronica 3y ago
Yes. Beside whatever advantages it has for ergonomics or activity, my own experience is that I do better work when standing - I find it easier to focus and get less confused when I hit difficulties. If it’s the same for you (and I guess you won’t know unless you try - I didn’t) then it’s worth it for that reason alone. Nowadays I work standing most of the day and lower the desk for video calls.
tilolebo 3y ago
Start with a 100 USD standing desk converter and use it for a while. Upgrade to a full electrical standing desk later if needed.
Linkd 3y ago
Absolutely recommend a motorized sit/stand desk. However, learn from me and choose a "3-stage" one, that goes down to 24". My original desk's lowest point was too high for my chair and ultimately led to shoulder pains after prolonged usage. I'm now working on automating the desk to force myself to stand/sit for the appropriate amount of time and pattern.
maartenh 3y ago
Next to getting an (electronic) sit/standing desk, consider getting a treadmill that you can shove under your desk, if you have the space. I don't use it every day, not even every week, but some weeks I'm walking all day. I got mine from a 2nd hand market place and it was quite affordable.
MaintenanceMode 3y ago
There are benefits to standing but it isn’t without risks. I messed up my body a bit through a lot of years of standing. So I traded standing body issues for sitting body issues, to some extent. Like others have said, make sure to mix it up by sitting and standing. Also like sitting, standing requires proper body dynamics (standing straight, keeping your weight evenly distributed, desk at proper height). If the desk you get has a way to preset both heights, you will be more likely to get it right each time you change. Lastly, a gel or cushion floor mat for standing can be really helpful.
TacticalCoder 3y ago
No. Keep your regular desk and go live an actual life, outside, doing real exercise. For example I'll now go for a little MTB ride. Additionally do buy a chair that's actually been engineered for long sitting hours and do not sit for too many hours in a row without doing at least some exercise. A standing desk is not a substitute for a poor chair or for actual exercice. If you do actually exercise and have a proper sitting chair, I kinda dispute the utility of wasting money and time moving your desk up and down "because reasons".
- chaostheory 3y ago
  This is akin to saying that exercise is a poor substitute for a good diet. You need both. Also doing one but not the other is way better than nothing. Using a standing desk should not be mutually exclusive to working out and vice versa
- lghh 3y ago
  False dichotomy! You should certainly do all the things that the parent comment is saying, but I still enjoy and recommend having a standing desk. Be sure to get one that is tall enough for you. We have cheaper ones in the office than I do at my home office and they don't go quite as high as I'd like. I'm tall, but not that tall.
chaostheory 3y ago
You don’t even need a full stand up desk. You can just get an adjustable stand aka standing desk convertor which start from $100. Most of them are manually adjustable and easy to use. You want to be able to easily switch from standing to sitting multiple times a day anyways. It’s not healthy to fully sit or fully stand the entire work day. Motorized standing desks are great too, but I figured that you didn’t want to commit $300 upfront before you tried it for some time Also agree with another comment about the need for a gel cushion mat or soft shoes / sandals while using these desks in the standing position.
fortran77 3y ago
And you need to tell everyone, like Peter Griffin did: https://youtu.be/Dh9wyy0S3dg?feature=shared https://youtu.be/Dh9wyy0S3dg?feature=shared
protortyp 3y ago
Absolutely. I built my motorized one about 6 years ago (bought the motorized legs and wood top for a total of 450€ back then) and I still use it on all home office days. The key is having a rubber floor mat with some knobs you can play with to stand comfortably. I can also recommend getting a walking pad. I usually have 10k steps before lunch with a 2.5km/h speed only that lets me still type perfectly. I primarily got my desk because I was tired of having bad posture and back pain. But since I also started working out heavily at the same time I built the table, I can't attribute the desk only to alleviating any pain I had. It definitely helps though with good posture. I'm also happy I got a smart version that can remember 4 heights. I had another (much more expensive) table at my previous workplace that didn't have it. And it was a pain switching from a seated to standing position.
dtnewman 3y ago
My last office had very high-quality motorized sitting/standing desks. They were beautiful. Maybe 5-10% of people used the standing functionality regularly, although to be fair, there is also value in having a sitting desk that adjusts to the exact height you want. That said, the people who used the standing functionality a lot really liked it. So for some people, it's a fantastic investment. I thought I'd be one of those people... turns out I'm not. So I'll echo the sentiment in other comments here, which is that you should buy a cheap desktop converter, a used desk [1] or the standing desk from ikea before making a big investment. [1] there's a lot of used desks out there that are in great condition. People bought them during the pandemic and now no longer work from home, or realized they don't like standing while working. At the same time, there's lots of companies that shifted permanently to remote work and are now done with their leases and selling high quality equipment at great prices.
dacohenii 3y ago
If you're tall and have the budget, I would recommend getting a 4-leg desk rather than a 2-leg one. I switched from a 2-leg Autonomous to a 4-leg model (DeskHaus Apex Pro) it's so much more stable, even when raised.
cooperadymas 3y ago
The only advice I haven't seen yet that you might consider if standing is to wear shoes or some good house slippers. Standing in one place barefoot on a hard surface can really wear out the feet and knees of some people (probably depending on your arches). A standing mat is good, but gets in the way of the chair if you're trying to sit. The best solution I have found is simply wear something with padding and support, even if you're a no-shoes-in-the-house kind of person. Although in my experience, a pair of slippers under the desk will quickly become the favorite sleeping spot for whatever pet you may have.
- Contexti 3y ago
  I wish I had known this. I tried a standing desk for six months some years ago. Standing on a hard surface damaged my heels. They still get sore sometimes. As others have said, the benefit of a standing desk is that you are not in the same position for too long. This can also be achieved via other ways. Nowadays I sit on an exercise ball or get up and stretch every 30 minutes.
notjustanymike 3y ago
I strongly recommend a standing desk paired with an ergomat. It's not the standing that's good for you, it's the moving. An ergomat promote that healthy bloodflow, plus it's pretty comfy. Good for long VR sessions too!
DamnInteresting 3y ago
I tried a standing desk and found it difficult to work standing for more than ~20 minutes at a time. It got to where I had to shift my weight so often that it became a distraction. I next tried a treadmill desk, and walking slowly made it much easier to work upright for 60+ minutes at a time. Every body is different, but walking was miles better than standing for me.
siva7 3y ago
Don't expect wonders. You'll also do fine without one. I'v witnessed that most people don't use the stand-up desk anymore after the novelty wears off so 50/50 you're just throwing out money.
tumidpandora 3y ago
Bought a hand crank one but improvised with a drill to do the cranking, works like a charm!
jauntywundrkind 3y ago
Brief mention, a huge number of these desks have a big bar under the bottom. Personally it frustrates me a lot; I try to slide under my desk & bump into the bar. Or just sitting there, there's this bar. I'd try to make sure my desk has free clearance underneath.
instagib 3y ago
I have a nice 4 post one. The alarm was annoying and I eventually turned it off to remind me to stand. I didn’t always hear it with headphones on anyways. I would and still may get a multi position setting controller as I use about 3 modes. Sitting properly, standing, and higher than normal sitting to change things up. Get a foot rest and don’t use the metal bar because your legs or feet will hurt from it. The stand part, I have thick slippers and use a square of exercise floor matting to stand on. After a month, I started drinking more water and walking around the house using pomodoro timers rather than standing. Now several months later I sit less and less because my chair isn’t terribly comfortable over long periods of time especially in summer. I spoke to a physical therapist with 30 years experience who said posture doesn’t matter and you will always adjust or get comfortable anyways. Being able to push my entire chair under the desk is nice.
kristopherkane 3y ago
I like adjustable height desks to fine tune them for sitting ergonomics. Just have a manual one. I never stand and work a keyboard. The chair is where I put all my money.
hakunin 3y ago
Two unexpected extra use cases for stand-up desk: 1. If you like recording vocals/singing while standing, you can have your microphone on the desk, but bring the desk up. (Thanks to memory you can have multiple heights for i.e. spouse). 2. If you do physical activity (gym, running, etc) and come home sweaty, but don't want to shower right away: now you can use the computer without putting your sweaty butt down on your chair.
himcognito 3y ago
A nice side benefit: if you have a large chair in a small room, being able to raise the desk high enough to push the chair entirely underneath the desk can free up a lot of space. eg, make room to do some yoga, room to set up an art easel, whatever. It can help turn an office space into a multi-use room.
KevinMS 3y ago
Try it first, it can be exhausting and uncomfortable on your feet. If you are not a light framed person it might not be for you.
62951413 3y ago
For the first twenty years of code monkeying I was not concerned about my sitting posture. And eventually I started developing lower back pain. 10+ years ago I used to joke about people using standing desks. But a standing desk was a cure for my back problems big time. I'm probably developing neck issues now because of my new standing posture though.
mnehring 3y ago
I just wanted to toss out one quick idea that worked for me. First, my experience with the standing desk: 1) If standing still, my inclination is to lock one knee, cock my hip and lean in. This gets pretty uncomfortable and is probably not much better than sitting for short-term pain issues. 2) I also bought a treadmill to do the walking desk thing. Works well for some tasks, but if I'm deep in complex coding, I can't be walking at the same time. It just doesn't work for me. There's a bit of extra context switching that happens for me when I need to turn off or turn on the treadmill. What did work for me was a bicycle desk. I bought Garmin Tacx smart trainer and hooked up a cheap bike that I got for free from a friend. I slid the front of the bike under the desk. I can then pedal while working. I found I can pedal even when in moderately deep thought, and if I need to stop pedaling for something complex, you simply stop, rather than having to turn off a device. There have been many days where I've gotten in 50 miles of pedaling while working. I usually output 80-100 watts while working, so very low power. However, after doing that for hours, it's a non-trivial amount of calorie burn. So, you do get a lot of muscular activity.
rcarmo 3y ago
I suggest trying the LACK approach first if you’re unsure: https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/07/19/1630 https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/07/19/1630 https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/10/31/1800 https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/10/31/1800 I still have both that impromptu standing desk and a very large sitting desk with ultrawide displays, etc. What I do is to take calls on the standing desk (I typically pace while not speaking or presenting) and code/write on my normal desk. I may some day move to a permanent sit/stand desk, but I have so much gear and my main desk is so big I have had trouble finding a suitable replacement.
v-erne 3y ago
I have one and for me it really was worth the money. I like to switch the way I sit often so having the ability to adjust it to different chairs (office, saddle, ball) with touch of a button was the real enabler here (without it I would be reluctant to switch few times a day). And it was a real life saver when I had, for a while, a medical condition that made sitting for more than 10 minutes almost impossible.
nickfromseattle 3y ago
Yes, then get a treadmill desk, so you can work while you walk. Walk 3 - 6 miles a day effortlessly and burn an additional 200 - 400 calories.

19 points by silent_cal 3y ago

I've been thinking about getting one because I've heard good things, but just wanted to hear from you all about how it might help (or not help) you at work if you've tried one.

gogurt2000 3y ago

A lot of people where I work have one and never stand up at it. I think you should try to find a way to try one for a week or so and see just how often you actually use it standing up.

Raed667 3y ago
A lot of people buy running shoes and never go for a run. It is not a statement against good running shoes.
- Someone1234 3y ago
  It absolutely is and rightfully so. If you see one person buy something then not use it, that's a fact, but if you see a lot of people do the same then it is a pattern. If there is a common pattern of people buying "betterment" products then not using them, you should evaluate why you won't be yet another statistic. I use my standing desk for reference, but the larger point is that a lot of people buy them and then don't use them for whatever reason. Likely don't think through what they're trying to solve and how often throughout the day they think: "wish I was standing right now." This issue is a reason why you should buy the cheap version of whatever it is first, then upgrade when you out-use the cheap one, rather than going all in on those $500 shoes or that $1500 exercise bike. Applied to standing desks: Try a "Standing Desk Converter" or a cheap IKEA standing desk for $300 instead of a high end motorized one for $1K+.
  - Raed667 3y ago
    This might feel logical but i find it counter intuitive. I've seen people suggest to new guitar player to just buy a cheap one just to see how you feel then invest in a good one. Yet a bad guitar will turn off a lot of people who would have kept playing if they had a better quality instrument.
    - dtnewman 3y ago
      Counterpoint - I know plenty of people who go out and buy an expensive guitar (or camera, or bicycle, or <name your hobby equipment>) and it sits around when they discover they don't want to put the time into it. My advice to the OP is to buy something used at a decent price. Chances are that if you don't like it after a month or so, you can sell it for close to what you paid. And if you like it so much after a month or two that you want to upgrade, you can sell it for close to what you paid.
  - nsxwolf 3y ago
    It's a shame IKEA doesn't make the Jerker desk anymore. I have one, and it's probably the greatest desk ever made. You can configure it as a standing desk by unbolting and repositioning the desk on the legs.
    - cooperadymas 3y ago
      I had the jerker desk for a long time, before standing desks were really popular. It was a fantastic desk and I loved using it in the standing position. If I could have found a good ergonomic chair that elevated to standing desk height, I would have loved to continue using it. At the time there were drafting chairs, and task chairs or task stools that would have been at the right height, but nothing really comfortable or ergonomic. Wonder if that's changed now.
- cooperadymas 3y ago
  Right, you're agreeing with the person you're replying to. The GP did not in any way make a statement against a good standing desk. They encouraged the OP to test it out if possible before committing to ensure they would actually use it in practice.
theshrike79 3y ago
They might not stand up at it, but I can bet they've adjusted the sitting height to match them properly instead of just using whatever size static desks are.

dougmwne 3y ago

Yes. Get a motorized one than can go from a low lap height to standing height. Not all the desks have a large enough range so make sure you measure. Your elbows should be at about a 90 deg angle while sitting and standing. Get yourself a cushioned standing mat as well. Get a stand for your monitor too. There are 2 main benefits. The most important one is that your chair and desk can be at the perfect ergonomic height while sitting. Most chairs and desks do not have the ideal height. Even an inch to high or low can cause issues over time. The other benefit is being able to stand. It's good to allow your body to spend time in a different position. And standing is a bit more active and lets your move your muscles and shift your weight around more. I try to stand for an hour or 2 a day, but your feet and hips will get tired if you overdo it. Best to just set yourself an alarm and hit the stand button when it rings, then sit when you get tired. I find it's mostly just habit. It's not a cure for a sedentary lifestyle, but good ergonomics and a little more variety in your work hours is better than nothing.

silent_cal 3y ago
Great info, thanks!
langsoul-com 3y ago
I second this just for the adjustable height to match your body perfectly. The stand up aspect is not very comfortable so go to a Ikea or a furniture store and try it out. I couldn't stand 3 minutes of that, let alone a few hours.
rubidium 3y ago
And the advantage is after covid there are a good number available 2nd hand (craigslist, fb) as some people return to the office and don't want it in their home anymore.
cooperadymas 3y ago
I would reinforce the motorized aspect. Trying to save $100 or whatever it may be to get a manual version will kill any gains you hope to achieve. You'll change position 10-100x more frequently if you don't have to deal with the annoying crank every time.

Someone1234 3y ago

I'm using one right now; as to if you should get one: The only major benefit for me is that it allows me to put my body into a different position. Sitting too long in one position causes me aches and pains. I try to keep moving while standing (fidgeting, but on purpose). I'd guess the health benefits are marginal, but the comfort benefits exist. I have a four-legged motorized standing desk which is expensive, but wobbling drives me absolutely nuts, and I just won't do it. It was a major deal-breaker for a long time.

Mystery-Machine 3y ago
Turns out that fidgeting burns quite some calories. So I wouldn't say that its health benefits are marginal.

geocrasher 3y ago

You want a sit-stand desk, not just a standing desk.

cooperadymas 3y ago
Everyone just calls these standing desks, right? No one actually says "sit-stand desk"? Even Uplift and Ikea use "standing desk" for their height adjustable options.
- geocrasher 3y ago
  Perhaps so. I've always called them sit-stand desks, because at one point there was a definite difference between the naming of the two.

mejutoco 3y ago

IMO it does not hurt (pun intended) to get a standing desk. I used one at work for a while. Lifting weights now and then got rid of any posture aches in my case. IME it is not needed, but it does no harm.

slothtrop 3y ago

The cheaper option is a desk riser. This can work just as well with a decent model, it just has less aesthetic appeal.

cramjabsyn 3y ago

When I had a job with lots of meetings I would raise my desk up to standing height a lot, but I find it uncomfortable for focus/flow work like coding. So I would raise/lower the desk depending on the task. I'd say if you do a fair amount of meetings give it a try. Ikea makes a powered model that's decent and cheap. The power bricks sometimes fail (they are essentially laptop bricks) but they are warrantied for something like 10 years.

Dachande663 3y ago

I live by a simple axiom: buy the cheapest of a thing you can get away with. If it breaks, you were using it enough, buy the best you can. If it doesn't break, you either weren't using it enough or it's good enough, so stick with it. Obviously this doesn't apply to all things but this is probably a good place to start. Stack a few boxes on your desk and try that for a week.

steve_adams_86 3y ago
Something worth considering here is that a good standing desk has no wobble when it’s raised, so if you buy something cheap or DIY something to experiment, keep in mind that the nice version of this is solid, convenient, and precise. In other words, don’t let the experiment ruin your decision based on variables that won’t exist with the real thing.

intellectronica 3y ago

Yes. Beside whatever advantages it has for ergonomics or activity, my own experience is that I do better work when standing - I find it easier to focus and get less confused when I hit difficulties. If it’s the same for you (and I guess you won’t know unless you try - I didn’t) then it’s worth it for that reason alone. Nowadays I work standing most of the day and lower the desk for video calls.

tilolebo 3y ago

Start with a 100 USD standing desk converter and use it for a while. Upgrade to a full electrical standing desk later if needed.

Linkd 3y ago

Absolutely recommend a motorized sit/stand desk. However, learn from me and choose a "3-stage" one, that goes down to 24". My original desk's lowest point was too high for my chair and ultimately led to shoulder pains after prolonged usage. I'm now working on automating the desk to force myself to stand/sit for the appropriate amount of time and pattern.

maartenh 3y ago

Next to getting an (electronic) sit/standing desk, consider getting a treadmill that you can shove under your desk, if you have the space. I don't use it every day, not even every week, but some weeks I'm walking all day. I got mine from a 2nd hand market place and it was quite affordable.

MaintenanceMode 3y ago

There are benefits to standing but it isn’t without risks. I messed up my body a bit through a lot of years of standing. So I traded standing body issues for sitting body issues, to some extent. Like others have said, make sure to mix it up by sitting and standing. Also like sitting, standing requires proper body dynamics (standing straight, keeping your weight evenly distributed, desk at proper height). If the desk you get has a way to preset both heights, you will be more likely to get it right each time you change. Lastly, a gel or cushion floor mat for standing can be really helpful.

TacticalCoder 3y ago

No. Keep your regular desk and go live an actual life, outside, doing real exercise. For example I'll now go for a little MTB ride. Additionally do buy a chair that's actually been engineered for long sitting hours and do not sit for too many hours in a row without doing at least some exercise. A standing desk is not a substitute for a poor chair or for actual exercice. If you do actually exercise and have a proper sitting chair, I kinda dispute the utility of wasting money and time moving your desk up and down "because reasons".

chaostheory 3y ago
This is akin to saying that exercise is a poor substitute for a good diet. You need both. Also doing one but not the other is way better than nothing. Using a standing desk should not be mutually exclusive to working out and vice versa
lghh 3y ago
False dichotomy! You should certainly do all the things that the parent comment is saying, but I still enjoy and recommend having a standing desk. Be sure to get one that is tall enough for you. We have cheaper ones in the office than I do at my home office and they don't go quite as high as I'd like. I'm tall, but not that tall.

chaostheory 3y ago

You don’t even need a full stand up desk. You can just get an adjustable stand aka standing desk convertor which start from $100. Most of them are manually adjustable and easy to use. You want to be able to easily switch from standing to sitting multiple times a day anyways. It’s not healthy to fully sit or fully stand the entire work day. Motorized standing desks are great too, but I figured that you didn’t want to commit $300 upfront before you tried it for some time Also agree with another comment about the need for a gel cushion mat or soft shoes / sandals while using these desks in the standing position.

fortran77 3y ago

And you need to tell everyone, like Peter Griffin did: https://youtu.be/Dh9wyy0S3dg?feature=shared https://youtu.be/Dh9wyy0S3dg?feature=shared

protortyp 3y ago

Absolutely. I built my motorized one about 6 years ago (bought the motorized legs and wood top for a total of 450€ back then) and I still use it on all home office days. The key is having a rubber floor mat with some knobs you can play with to stand comfortably. I can also recommend getting a walking pad. I usually have 10k steps before lunch with a 2.5km/h speed only that lets me still type perfectly. I primarily got my desk because I was tired of having bad posture and back pain. But since I also started working out heavily at the same time I built the table, I can't attribute the desk only to alleviating any pain I had. It definitely helps though with good posture. I'm also happy I got a smart version that can remember 4 heights. I had another (much more expensive) table at my previous workplace that didn't have it. And it was a pain switching from a seated to standing position.

dtnewman 3y ago

My last office had very high-quality motorized sitting/standing desks. They were beautiful. Maybe 5-10% of people used the standing functionality regularly, although to be fair, there is also value in having a sitting desk that adjusts to the exact height you want. That said, the people who used the standing functionality a lot really liked it. So for some people, it's a fantastic investment. I thought I'd be one of those people... turns out I'm not. So I'll echo the sentiment in other comments here, which is that you should buy a cheap desktop converter, a used desk [1] or the standing desk from ikea before making a big investment. [1] there's a lot of used desks out there that are in great condition. People bought them during the pandemic and now no longer work from home, or realized they don't like standing while working. At the same time, there's lots of companies that shifted permanently to remote work and are now done with their leases and selling high quality equipment at great prices.

dacohenii 3y ago

If you're tall and have the budget, I would recommend getting a 4-leg desk rather than a 2-leg one. I switched from a 2-leg Autonomous to a 4-leg model (DeskHaus Apex Pro) it's so much more stable, even when raised.

cooperadymas 3y ago

The only advice I haven't seen yet that you might consider if standing is to wear shoes or some good house slippers. Standing in one place barefoot on a hard surface can really wear out the feet and knees of some people (probably depending on your arches). A standing mat is good, but gets in the way of the chair if you're trying to sit. The best solution I have found is simply wear something with padding and support, even if you're a no-shoes-in-the-house kind of person. Although in my experience, a pair of slippers under the desk will quickly become the favorite sleeping spot for whatever pet you may have.

Contexti 3y ago
I wish I had known this. I tried a standing desk for six months some years ago. Standing on a hard surface damaged my heels. They still get sore sometimes. As others have said, the benefit of a standing desk is that you are not in the same position for too long. This can also be achieved via other ways. Nowadays I sit on an exercise ball or get up and stretch every 30 minutes.

notjustanymike 3y ago

I strongly recommend a standing desk paired with an ergomat. It's not the standing that's good for you, it's the moving. An ergomat promote that healthy bloodflow, plus it's pretty comfy. Good for long VR sessions too!

DamnInteresting 3y ago

I tried a standing desk and found it difficult to work standing for more than ~20 minutes at a time. It got to where I had to shift my weight so often that it became a distraction. I next tried a treadmill desk, and walking slowly made it much easier to work upright for 60+ minutes at a time. Every body is different, but walking was miles better than standing for me.

siva7 3y ago

Don't expect wonders. You'll also do fine without one. I'v witnessed that most people don't use the stand-up desk anymore after the novelty wears off so 50/50 you're just throwing out money.

tumidpandora 3y ago

Bought a hand crank one but improvised with a drill to do the cranking, works like a charm!

jauntywundrkind 3y ago

Brief mention, a huge number of these desks have a big bar under the bottom. Personally it frustrates me a lot; I try to slide under my desk & bump into the bar. Or just sitting there, there's this bar. I'd try to make sure my desk has free clearance underneath.

instagib 3y ago

I have a nice 4 post one. The alarm was annoying and I eventually turned it off to remind me to stand. I didn’t always hear it with headphones on anyways. I would and still may get a multi position setting controller as I use about 3 modes. Sitting properly, standing, and higher than normal sitting to change things up. Get a foot rest and don’t use the metal bar because your legs or feet will hurt from it. The stand part, I have thick slippers and use a square of exercise floor matting to stand on. After a month, I started drinking more water and walking around the house using pomodoro timers rather than standing. Now several months later I sit less and less because my chair isn’t terribly comfortable over long periods of time especially in summer. I spoke to a physical therapist with 30 years experience who said posture doesn’t matter and you will always adjust or get comfortable anyways. Being able to push my entire chair under the desk is nice.

kristopherkane 3y ago

I like adjustable height desks to fine tune them for sitting ergonomics. Just have a manual one. I never stand and work a keyboard. The chair is where I put all my money.

hakunin 3y ago

Two unexpected extra use cases for stand-up desk: 1. If you like recording vocals/singing while standing, you can have your microphone on the desk, but bring the desk up. (Thanks to memory you can have multiple heights for i.e. spouse). 2. If you do physical activity (gym, running, etc) and come home sweaty, but don't want to shower right away: now you can use the computer without putting your sweaty butt down on your chair.

himcognito 3y ago

A nice side benefit: if you have a large chair in a small room, being able to raise the desk high enough to push the chair entirely underneath the desk can free up a lot of space. eg, make room to do some yoga, room to set up an art easel, whatever. It can help turn an office space into a multi-use room.

KevinMS 3y ago

Try it first, it can be exhausting and uncomfortable on your feet. If you are not a light framed person it might not be for you.

62951413 3y ago

For the first twenty years of code monkeying I was not concerned about my sitting posture. And eventually I started developing lower back pain. 10+ years ago I used to joke about people using standing desks. But a standing desk was a cure for my back problems big time. I'm probably developing neck issues now because of my new standing posture though.

mnehring 3y ago

I just wanted to toss out one quick idea that worked for me. First, my experience with the standing desk: 1) If standing still, my inclination is to lock one knee, cock my hip and lean in. This gets pretty uncomfortable and is probably not much better than sitting for short-term pain issues. 2) I also bought a treadmill to do the walking desk thing. Works well for some tasks, but if I'm deep in complex coding, I can't be walking at the same time. It just doesn't work for me. There's a bit of extra context switching that happens for me when I need to turn off or turn on the treadmill. What did work for me was a bicycle desk. I bought Garmin Tacx smart trainer and hooked up a cheap bike that I got for free from a friend. I slid the front of the bike under the desk. I can then pedal while working. I found I can pedal even when in moderately deep thought, and if I need to stop pedaling for something complex, you simply stop, rather than having to turn off a device. There have been many days where I've gotten in 50 miles of pedaling while working. I usually output 80-100 watts while working, so very low power. However, after doing that for hours, it's a non-trivial amount of calorie burn. So, you do get a lot of muscular activity.

rcarmo 3y ago

I suggest trying the LACK approach first if you’re unsure: https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/07/19/1630 https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/07/19/1630 https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/10/31/1800 https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2020/10/31/1800 I still have both that impromptu standing desk and a very large sitting desk with ultrawide displays, etc. What I do is to take calls on the standing desk (I typically pace while not speaking or presenting) and code/write on my normal desk. I may some day move to a permanent sit/stand desk, but I have so much gear and my main desk is so big I have had trouble finding a suitable replacement.

v-erne 3y ago

I have one and for me it really was worth the money. I like to switch the way I sit often so having the ability to adjust it to different chairs (office, saddle, ball) with touch of a button was the real enabler here (without it I would be reluctant to switch few times a day). And it was a real life saver when I had, for a while, a medical condition that made sitting for more than 10 minutes almost impossible.

nickfromseattle 3y ago

Yes, then get a treadmill desk, so you can work while you walk. Walk 3 - 6 miles a day effortlessly and burn an additional 200 - 400 calories.