3 ms·

Who Wrote at Standing Desks? Kierkegaard, Dickens and Ernest Hemingway Too

21 points by r0h1n 12y ago

hatty 12y ago
If I could add to the article, I would describe an ideal standing desk (or several), perhaps discuss contemporary standing desks versus old, and provide the specific instructions on DYI rather than the general description of necessary supplies. Thoughts, hackers? For some hackers like me, arrangements like Hemingway's (a typewriter on top of a bookshelf) are too cramped for a laptop/desktop and anything else. In my case, in addition to an iMac, I need a traditional paper notebook for a math class, a graphing calculator, and a space to charge/test my iPad and phones. I experimented by propping up an end table on speakers and making adjustments with stacks of books. The surface area of an end table was far too small. So, I reverted back to my L-shaped sitting desk, which is a little too tricky at this time to prop up (it has a thin metal frame and has glass for all the surfaces).
- Scarblac 12y ago
  I use the one described here ( http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dolla... ): an Ikea "Lack" table with a shelf attached to it for the keyboard. I have a normal laptop stand on the left side of my desk where I set, and one those Lack tables on the right side with a monitor on it. When I want to stand, I just move my keyboard and mouse to the shelf and setup my laptop to use the monitor instead of its own screen. I think the Lack table also exists in a version that is twice as wide, but I'm not sure.
tsotha 12y ago
While Hemingway may have been a great writer, I'm not sure I want to emulate his health choices.
dj-wonk 12y ago
The book called "The Healthy Programmer" talks a bit about Hemingway and his standing desk. The book also cites research showing that standing for extended periods has different (and arguably worse) health risks than sitting for long periods. People who stand too long often use poor posture, may favor one side over another, not to mention other potentially severe complications. The book's solution is simple: move often! Change position about every 20 minutes. For example, sit in a chair, then stand, then sit on an exercise ball, and so on.
- mattlutze 12y ago
  Posture is the key -- I put a standing desk together and got about 10 hours in on it over two days. Worst neck pain in my life because I was essentially looking down too far from neutral. The walking desks make some sense, but standing/sitting is probably the best compromise for the many of us without space in our home offices (or ability in our office-offices) to put a treadmill in.
  - Scarblac 12y ago
    I think that's just like starting to run by doing 5kms the first two days, you're going to be injured. It needs to be built up at first. On the other hand, my own experience with doing one 25-minute Pomodoro standing per day is that it isn't enough, too easy to stop doing it.
paines 12y ago
Hemingway used a fridge IIRC, cause he was so big.

21 points by r0h1n 12y ago

hatty 12y ago

If I could add to the article, I would describe an ideal standing desk (or several), perhaps discuss contemporary standing desks versus old, and provide the specific instructions on DYI rather than the general description of necessary supplies. Thoughts, hackers? For some hackers like me, arrangements like Hemingway's (a typewriter on top of a bookshelf) are too cramped for a laptop/desktop and anything else. In my case, in addition to an iMac, I need a traditional paper notebook for a math class, a graphing calculator, and a space to charge/test my iPad and phones. I experimented by propping up an end table on speakers and making adjustments with stacks of books. The surface area of an end table was far too small. So, I reverted back to my L-shaped sitting desk, which is a little too tricky at this time to prop up (it has a thin metal frame and has glass for all the surfaces).

Scarblac 12y ago
I use the one described here ( http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dollars.html http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dolla... ): an Ikea "Lack" table with a shelf attached to it for the keyboard. I have a normal laptop stand on the left side of my desk where I set, and one those Lack tables on the right side with a monitor on it. When I want to stand, I just move my keyboard and mouse to the shelf and setup my laptop to use the monitor instead of its own screen. I think the Lack table also exists in a version that is twice as wide, but I'm not sure.

tsotha 12y ago

While Hemingway may have been a great writer, I'm not sure I want to emulate his health choices.

dj-wonk 12y ago

The book called "The Healthy Programmer" talks a bit about Hemingway and his standing desk. The book also cites research showing that standing for extended periods has different (and arguably worse) health risks than sitting for long periods. People who stand too long often use poor posture, may favor one side over another, not to mention other potentially severe complications. The book's solution is simple: move often! Change position about every 20 minutes. For example, sit in a chair, then stand, then sit on an exercise ball, and so on.

mattlutze 12y ago
Posture is the key -- I put a standing desk together and got about 10 hours in on it over two days. Worst neck pain in my life because I was essentially looking down too far from neutral. The walking desks make some sense, but standing/sitting is probably the best compromise for the many of us without space in our home offices (or ability in our office-offices) to put a treadmill in.
- Scarblac 12y ago
  I think that's just like starting to run by doing 5kms the first two days, you're going to be injured. It needs to be built up at first. On the other hand, my own experience with doing one 25-minute Pomodoro standing per day is that it isn't enough, too easy to stop doing it.

paines 12y ago

Hemingway used a fridge IIRC, cause he was so big.