5 ms·

I'm curious about the standing desk because to me it's always seemed like something that would make me focus less on the task at hand. Then again, I've always b

by kyro 14y ago

I'm curious about the standing desk because to me it's always seemed like something that would make me focus less on the task at hand. Then again, I've always been baffled by how others at the gym can read novels while on the eliptical. I can't even focus properly on the TV shows the gym has running when I'm exercising. Perhaps it's a reflection of my overall health or maybe my brain is wired in a way where I can't handle both involved physical and mental activity. I'd like to hear from people who use standing desks on how it's affected their productivity and quality of work.

damncabbage 14y ago
I use a standing desk a lot (six of eight hours, doing it for the last couple of years), am a bit unfit and pudgy, and I'm doing fine. I can get in the "zone" just the same as sitting, and as far as I can tell it hasn't negatively affected the quality of my work. To me, it feel like it kills the post-lunch haze, and reduces the friction to move around. I find it easier when brainstorming to pace or just walk away to a whiteboard, for example. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, bend my knees, and generally move around a bit during the day. I take sit-down breaks every hour like you'd take a stand-up break. I tried it out by stacking some things on my desk[1]. Make sure to keep the same sort of ergonomic setup with standing as sitting (eg. monitor at eye-height, arms flat to the keyboard, etc); staring down at a laptop is just going to make you unhappy. I'd be careful before jumping on the stand-all-day bandwagon, though: http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUESitStand.html http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUESitStand.html (And beware of confirmation bias[2] when first switching over. If you're happy with it at first, give it a little while before deciding whether or not to go for the long haul. Last thing you want to do is regret dropping the cash on a standing desk.) 1. http://instagram.com/p/MUmlP/ http://instagram.com/p/MUmlP/ http://instagram.com/p/SWS7gDO6Tg/ http://instagram.com/p/SWS7gDO6Tg/ http://instagram.com/p/Jy1d6Qu6cj/ http://instagram.com/p/Jy1d6Qu6cj/ 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
drewrv 14y ago
I have a comfy stool to sit in at my standing desk. I've found that without even thinking about it, I stand when producing, and sit when consuming. For example I'll sit and read some documentation or sample code, then stand to write my code. Standing felt quite natural after a day or two. As for productivity/quality of work, it's not worse. For quality of life, it's much better as I don't feel as drained at the end of the day.
- tworats 14y ago
  Same: producing when standing, consuming when sitting. I'm actually more productive, and if feels great. I'm also much more mobile when standing - I'll walk around if I'm thinking. I am more physically tired at the end of the day, but in a good way.
notatoad 14y ago
Yeah, I tried the stand desk thing for a little bit, and it did increase my productivity, but i found it killed my output quality. At a stand desk, everything feels like panic mode. Sometimes you just need to sit down and think about something. If you're doing data entry or answering emails or something like that where you're looking forward to the job being over it's probably okay, but for actually solving problems and building things I really didn't like it.
greggman 14y ago
I got a standing desk. A year later I had foot problems and my podiatrist told me to stop standing at my desk as it was hurting my feet.
- joelhooks 14y ago
  Floor pads and good shoes are essential equipment.
cwpollock 14y ago
As a developer I find that I can only do certain kinds of activities while standing. I like standing for planning and responding to email, but if I'm writing code I generally like to sit down. I have a setup like this one: http://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/split-level-sitting-and-standing-desk-made-with-pipe/ http://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/split-level-sitting-a... I have two monitors and I just changed which one is hooked up to my laptop.
skirkpat 14y ago
Hi, I'm a bit biased as an investor in, and CFO for, a startup company that hopes to revolutionize the way people work. That said, I have been working at the Focal Upright Workstation (Locus Seat and Locus Desk) with an anti-fatigue mat on the seat base and I LOVE it. Way more energy, focus is not an issue (though I don't think this would be the case on a treadmill desk) and a great relief on the lower back issues that would crop up after sitting all day. Our website www.focaluprightfurniture.com has more info and videos. If you are familiar with Keen Footwear you'll be interested to know that this workstation was designed by Martin Keen who founded Keen Footwear earlier in his career.

by kyro 14y ago

damncabbage 14y ago

I use a standing desk a lot (six of eight hours, doing it for the last couple of years), am a bit unfit and pudgy, and I'm doing fine. I can get in the "zone" just the same as sitting, and as far as I can tell it hasn't negatively affected the quality of my work. To me, it feel like it kills the post-lunch haze, and reduces the friction to move around. I find it easier when brainstorming to pace or just walk away to a whiteboard, for example. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, bend my knees, and generally move around a bit during the day. I take sit-down breaks every hour like you'd take a stand-up break. I tried it out by stacking some things on my desk[1]. Make sure to keep the same sort of ergonomic setup with standing as sitting (eg. monitor at eye-height, arms flat to the keyboard, etc); staring down at a laptop is just going to make you unhappy. I'd be careful before jumping on the stand-all-day bandwagon, though: http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUESitStand.html http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUESitStand.html (And beware of confirmation bias[2] when first switching over. If you're happy with it at first, give it a little while before deciding whether or not to go for the long haul. Last thing you want to do is regret dropping the cash on a standing desk.) 1. http://instagram.com/p/MUmlP/ http://instagram.com/p/MUmlP/ http://instagram.com/p/SWS7gDO6Tg/ http://instagram.com/p/SWS7gDO6Tg/ http://instagram.com/p/Jy1d6Qu6cj/ http://instagram.com/p/Jy1d6Qu6cj/ 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

drewrv 14y ago

I have a comfy stool to sit in at my standing desk. I've found that without even thinking about it, I stand when producing, and sit when consuming. For example I'll sit and read some documentation or sample code, then stand to write my code. Standing felt quite natural after a day or two. As for productivity/quality of work, it's not worse. For quality of life, it's much better as I don't feel as drained at the end of the day.

tworats 14y ago
Same: producing when standing, consuming when sitting. I'm actually more productive, and if feels great. I'm also much more mobile when standing - I'll walk around if I'm thinking. I am more physically tired at the end of the day, but in a good way.

notatoad 14y ago

Yeah, I tried the stand desk thing for a little bit, and it did increase my productivity, but i found it killed my output quality. At a stand desk, everything feels like panic mode. Sometimes you just need to sit down and think about something. If you're doing data entry or answering emails or something like that where you're looking forward to the job being over it's probably okay, but for actually solving problems and building things I really didn't like it.

greggman 14y ago

I got a standing desk. A year later I had foot problems and my podiatrist told me to stop standing at my desk as it was hurting my feet.

joelhooks 14y ago
Floor pads and good shoes are essential equipment.

cwpollock 14y ago

As a developer I find that I can only do certain kinds of activities while standing. I like standing for planning and responding to email, but if I'm writing code I generally like to sit down. I have a setup like this one: http://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/split-level-sitting-and-standing-desk-made-with-pipe/ http://www.simplifiedbuilding.com/blog/split-level-sitting-a... I have two monitors and I just changed which one is hooked up to my laptop.

skirkpat 14y ago

Hi, I'm a bit biased as an investor in, and CFO for, a startup company that hopes to revolutionize the way people work. That said, I have been working at the Focal Upright Workstation (Locus Seat and Locus Desk) with an anti-fatigue mat on the seat base and I LOVE it. Way more energy, focus is not an issue (though I don't think this would be the case on a treadmill desk) and a great relief on the lower back issues that would crop up after sitting all day. Our website www.focaluprightfurniture.com has more info and videos. If you are familiar with Keen Footwear you'll be interested to know that this workstation was designed by Martin Keen who founded Keen Footwear earlier in his career.