Stand Up Desks
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Say No to Stand Up Desks

I currently sit in the armpit of Eric Chevalier. This is thanks to a free-thinker who thought they were benefiting society by shopping at Whole Foods and developing the stand up desk with abandoned Ikea furniture.

Our office recently gave everyone the option to get a stand up desk or to continue using chairs. This put me and my desk neighbor Eric in an awkward position, but mostly it put me at eye level with any object that rolls across the edge of his desk and into my forehead. As a result, over the last three months I have documented my coworkers with stand up desks to reveal the truth about taking a stand. Here are some of disadvantages I have noticed: (Note – All of the photos below were taken unknowingly over the course of three months. Dedication.)

1. Set Up

Building a piece of furniture from Ikea is about as stressful as taking the ACT. Except with the ACT you are guaranteed that the critical thinking nightmare won’t be longer than 4 hours. So unless you have an intern who will build the desk for you and measure your eye levels to guarantee optimal posture, stop. (So basically unless you have Spencer, which you don’t because we have him.)

2. Sidlers

Seinfeld introduced the “sideler” during its 162nd episode. A sideler is anyone who sneaks up behind you without you knowing. Refer to the pirated video below:

Because you are always standing, you are always in a vulnerable position for sidlers walking by. However, it could be argued that a professional sideler can commit to meeting various eye levels.

3. Full exposure to your feet.

Unless you have presentable shoes that also meet the comfort level needed to stand all day, stand up desks are not a good option for you. Vibram FiveFingers are also not a good option for you.

4. Nobody wants to stand all day.

This becomes a problem when you have a standing desk. As a result, I have seen all sorts of strange solutions to avoid the discomfort.

Standing on an inflateable.

Denial that you have a stand up desk.

Denial that you are at work.

Benefits?

So far, I have only seen one benefit to the stand up desk discovered by Ellen Lu. And that is, there is more space to hang photos of good looking men. Slow clap goes out to Ellen for making lemonade out of lemons, and a beautiful montage out of a somewhat disfunctional color printer.

What’s Next

Although some of you may continue to deny that your stand up desk is killing your feet and that you schedule meetings for no reason other than to sit in a chair, others might be interested in more comfortable alternatives. Here are some new up and coming trends I have seen in the office:

Arms elevated.

Feet elevated

Legs perpendicular

Laying down

Cardboard

Something to Sit On

What are your thoughts about standing desks? Ikea no Ikea? Maybe an upgrade to this sit-stand contraption? Or even better this desk that looks like it could be transformed into a segway? Or literally going the ‘extra mile’ with a treadmill addition? This trial with a unicycle addition didn’t go so well, but I’m open for comments and suggestions.


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72 Comments

  • Reply EC Finder March 20, 2013 at 12:17 am

    My work actually has desks where you can crank them up and down. So, if you feel like standing, crank it up. If you get sick of it, crank it back down. Though I have yet to crank mine up.

  • Reply Derrick March 20, 2013 at 12:22 am

    Ha Ha! So true! My co-workers also stand up a lot but they also sit down a lot, too. Lol!

  • Reply Brittany Stiles March 26, 2013 at 12:03 am

    Why in the world would someone want a stand up desk? That’s basically the worst idea ever. Power to the Bird for standing (i mean sitting) strong!

    • Reply Mario August 19, 2015 at 7:47 pm

      Because years of sitting at a desk will cause more back problems than standing up/varying. Look up VariDesk.

  • Reply Julie April 16, 2013 at 4:26 am

    Can I just say that I love your blog? I have no idea how I found it, friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend, but anyways I can’t get enough! Consider me your newest fan, and feel free to check out my budding blog, Slightly Strange over at http://7julieh.blogspot.com/ and let me know what you think!
    Julie

  • Reply Cliff May 1, 2013 at 5:28 pm

    FUNNY Blog Post! Maybe you just need coworkers without arm pits and that would solve a lot of problems?

  • Reply JP May 3, 2013 at 3:49 am

    When you’re sitting down, you’re more likely to do brainless activities such as browsing the web, emails and wasting time unconsciously.

    When you’re standing up, you’re constantly thinking about what you’re doing – you’re much less likely to let your mind wander.

    This I think is the biggest benefit of a stand up desk. In my work office I use this one: http://bit.ly/122L1EP it lets me switch between standing and sitting, and I like to have both options.

  • Reply BIlly May 13, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    I find it amazing that none have considered a drafting chair!??! Stand up, when your feet get a little tired get on the chair… simple.

    • Reply Ben July 1, 2013 at 3:53 am

      I did think of this, and it works perfectly. I use the standing desk (more like a podium with drawers, actually) to get more use out of the vertical space in a small office. Since I’m not trying to spread out navigational charts on my desk, I don’t need a large writing surface, just a surface big enough for reading or signing stuff.

      I remember when I worked at one of the world’s biggest banks about 14 years ago (it’s not one of the biggest any more, hint hint hint) we bought thousands of desk modifications to allow employees to stand. Within a year, we had to find a new storage facility to house all the ones that people had thrown out.

  • Reply BB May 16, 2013 at 7:39 pm

    Funny post.

    I’d suggestion checking out juststand.org regarding how incredibly unhealthy sitting all day is… and that even your evening workout won’t undo the damage of a day spent sitting.

    This was meant as a humorous post though, and on that level: well done.

  • Reply Jerry May 16, 2013 at 8:16 pm

    I use a standup at work and love it. No, i am not in denial about my feet hurting.. they do.. but I change shoes alot and sometimes wear no shoes.. that helps to keep my feet happier.

    • Reply Heather January 14, 2015 at 6:30 pm

      I shut my door, put on my ballet slippers, and do modified barre exercises while I work at my standing desk. I even put on music while I do it. And then when my feet hurt and I just want to sit for part of the day, I do.

  • Reply Ken May 21, 2013 at 11:43 am

    Standing works quite well and beyond anecdotal humor, regardless if you choose to stand or not there is no denying the negative effects of sitting. And one’s hour in the gym negates none of those effects. A simple google search will reveal countless studies on the ill effects of a sedentary/inactive life style. Not simply someones blog. Article cited at the CDC and many other reputable research hospitals.

    • Reply Carly Walker May 24, 2013 at 1:14 am

      A simple google search will also show that this blog post is ranked number one as a resource for “stand up desks.” Sit on that, Ken.

      • Reply Roger November 18, 2013 at 1:22 pm

        A simple understanding of how paid SEO works will show being at the top of a Google search has nothing to do with the accuracy or validity of a web site.

        Correlation does not imply causation.

        Of course, if you have any data to refute the 13 year study of the Pennington Research Center including 17,000 men and women in this sphere I’d enjoy reading it. The American Cancer Society and The Journal of American Epidemiology have a wealth of information that is so overwhelming in direct causation to cancer, heart attacks and spinal degeneration only a fool would resist the findings. If you understand the metrics of clinical studies you will find the MOE to be within all accepted relevancy of specificity and sensitivity in these studies.

      • Reply Mark December 2, 2013 at 11:43 pm

        While I can appreciate your sense of humor, the point you’re trying to make is flat wrong. You omit widespread evidence that a sit-only workplace is strongly linked to health issues. There’s a gray area, and that’s why sit-stand workstations exist. Try to refine your opinion with actual and more objective information (e.g. Google up “sit vs stand desk” for instance). You’ll find plenty of reasons and situation in which one, the other, or alternate is great.

        Anyone can cook up a bunch of image, pepper it up with humor, and “”prove”” the point they want to.

        I also note that your page does not show in the top pages. Based on your reasoning, that means it does not have credibility and anymore. Ah, the mysteries of search engines!

        • Reply Danny May 20, 2015 at 4:19 pm

          To Mark and Roger– You guys must be a blast to hang out with. Sometimes people are being serious, and sometimes they are not. Learn the difference, relax, and maybe even loosen that bow tie a little bit. Then, the next time you come across someone’s cheeky opinion sprinkled with humor, you won’t feel compelled to go off topic and remind the world that science exists. Carly’s “Sit on that, Ken” comment should have been enough to tip off all but the most socially obtuse.

  • Reply Ben May 22, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    stumbled across this blog post; I love it! Going to Ikea now anyways :).

  • Reply Julia May 23, 2013 at 5:19 am

    Ahh, you forgot to include that when you have a standup desk, other folks like to hide under it to take naps. Well, okay, I’m the one that takes the naps but it really comes in handy which actually comes in handy. Ahh.. “The Nap” another Seinfeld reference! “…I’m invisible!” – George Costanza

  • Reply dave May 27, 2013 at 8:41 pm

    I work from home and stand all day. Croc flip flops are the best for the feet. Sure, it gets uncomfortable sometime, but it’s nowhere near as bad as sitting hunched over all day. The benefits outweigh the negatives.

  • Reply Ingrid May 28, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    Funny entry!!! 😀

    You can also try standing support chairs – there’s a great entry on that here:

    http://varierfurniture.wordpress.com/2013/05/28/health-and-research-restoring-a-body-in-motion/

  • Reply Mary June 3, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    The purpose of a standing desk is not forcing yourself to stand up and work all day, that would cause issues for sure! Same issue if you sit down all day and work (what I have been doing for a long time which caused permanent damage to my back, neck and shoulders)
    The whole purpose is to be able to alternate between sitting and standing. I have an Ergotron sit-stand desk and some days I maybe only stand 30 min! while some other days I feel like I’m more focused standing up and I do up to 3-4 hours. It all depends, the people in your office seem to be forcing themselves to stand up and of course it can get frustrating sometimes.
    I suggest sit-stand desks to anyone who wants to give it a try and starting by very short periods of time at first.

  • Reply bob sloggin June 6, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Having thrown a blood clot two years ago resulting in a massive PE, I look forward to getting a adjustable standup desk. This was directly caused by sitting 10-12 hours a day at my desk. While I thought I was getting up often enough and moving around, I obviously was not. If you sit for hours on end you are at risk.

  • Reply Lighting Steve June 6, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    Hilarious take on the stand up craze. The armpit brings the situation into reality.
    So standing at your desk does not work for everyone and does not fit in every office environment.
    You 2 are positioned pretty close together.
    But if you do have a little space, you might want to try standing for part of the day. You need a desk that adjusts up and down, or more economically, a stand to pop on your desk and then take away when you want to sit (which might be most of the time, but you still benefit from the time you stand up)
    Here is the one we useStanding solution

  • Reply BM June 16, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    Great post…. very interesting and fun to read!!
    Some should buy Eric a sit and stand monitor arm for Christmas :)

  • Reply Stand Up Desks: Our DIY Solution & How it Could Change Your Life June 20, 2013 at 4:44 pm

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  • Reply LAS June 23, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    You are hilarious!! I love your up and coming office trends. I’ve been using a stand up desk since I was in a minor car accident about a year ago and it’s relieved a lot of my lower back pain. I made my first standing desk out, but was mocked about it’s looks in my office. I’ve recently upgraded to the Stand Steady which looks great and costs under $200.

  • Reply Girrafton June 23, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    I have rheumatoid arthritis, so I’m in the process of replacing all my office furniture with the proper ergonomic counterparts, which I think will include a standup desk and a drafting chair. I read this page in an earnest search of scientific reasons not to do so…and I’m really glad I did. You’re funny, and I’m now giving serious consideration to the cardboard alternative.

  • Reply MM June 25, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Great blog, lots of fun! But seriously… I switched my workstation to standing height last October and will never switch back. We’re in cubicles so armpits are not an issue. An anti fatigue mat helps the feet, and a drafting height chair is available for the occasional rest if needed, but I rarely use it now. Try it and you’ll find you have more energy at the end of the day, less shoulder and back pain, better posture, and possibly even lose some weight in the process!

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  • Reply conference table July 16, 2013 at 9:13 am

    All day standing and all day sitting both are not good! I’m really of two minds about standing desks. These new up and coming trends can be good solution for this!

  • Reply Jason July 21, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    Thank you so much for explaining this to me in a rational way. I’m obviously behind the times and just recently caught wind of the stand up desk virus spreading around. My first thought was that there must be something that makes sense here. People can’t be excited about a desk that you have to stand at, can they?

    At least the giant inflatable ball as a seat gave me the ability to lean back and stretch my abs once in a while.

    Thanks for pointing out the insanity of all this and helping me ensure that I’m not the one losing my mind!

  • Reply Paul August 6, 2013 at 5:27 pm

    I have had a stand-up treadmill desk for about a year. Not only does it make standing more comfortable, I usually walk about 100 miles/month at 2 – 3 mph. At that speed I can type, talk on the phone, etc. – and – burn a lot of calories. It works!

    • Reply Kasey December 20, 2016 at 8:23 pm

      That’s hilarious. I want to see a picture. Great idea….I would be a little nervous I would drop something while on the phone and go down in a hot mess.

  • Reply Fish Jones August 7, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    I work at home, and have a couch “desk” (stool) and a stand up “desk” (different stool + chair)

    If I’m really, really tired, I’ll just sit on the couch. No questions asked.

    If I’m kind of tired, but whatever, I’ll unplug the laptop, so I have as long as it takes the battery to yell at me to sit on the couch, and then I’m back up until my legs get tired.

    Right now, I’m standing and getting annoyed that stool+chair is ugly.

    I find rotating between the two comfortable. Just sitting sucks and makes my legs feel weird. Just standing sucks and makes my feet hurt, or it doesn’t work (like practicing guitar… It needs a lap).

  • Reply Craig August 8, 2013 at 11:45 pm

    I have a powered stand up desk, which means it can move between sitting and standing. I use the standing for about 5 hours a day and sitting for the other 3-4. Its freaking amazing, and all my back pain has cleared up. Wouldn’t swap back if you paid me. It all started with a $50 ikea stand up desk for me, 7 months later here I am with the real deal.

  • Reply David August 9, 2013 at 12:15 am

    I have been using a stand up desk for a year now. Prior, I had spend 9 months and countless trips to Physio and a specialist to try and solve a hamstring injury. The specialist suggested that riding my bike to work, stretching plus all the other exercise I was doing was great, but that sitting all day was what was stopping the Hamstring from coming right.
    After about a month of using the stand-up desk I no longer had a hamstring injury.
    I would suggest though, that if one wishes to try using a stand-up desk that they get a height adjustable desk so that you can sit at some stage each day…

  • Reply Harry Bosh August 15, 2013 at 6:21 am

    bar stool? optional sit/stand scenario!

  • Reply tiger August 15, 2013 at 6:36 pm

    I’m sure someone else already said this but I’m too lazy to read the comments:

    It’s recommended that the majority of your weight is on your feet. So a standup desk with a stool is great. Of course no one will stand all the time. They should alternate to the stool (with majority of weight on the feet) for a percentage of the day.

  • Reply Crazy Ivan August 23, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    I agree with Harry Bosh, only took it a step further. Bought a 5-foot bar off of Craigslist! It’s got the foot rail and everything, so it feels natural if I want to lean on it and put my foot up while I type. And if I feel like sitting, I use a bar stool! Screw Ikea and their chintsy hipster crap. No offense hipsters. 😀

  • Reply gaius gracchus August 24, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    Standing all day can also be problematic. That is why we went with a treadmill desk. Makes all the difference in the world! We do alternate with some time sitting – it is maybe 50/50. But it feels really good to walk slowly while we work instead of just stand or sit. We forget we are walking we get so engrossed into our work on our computers.

    We got a new Multitable and we LOVE IT!!! We ordered the entire table from them, not just the base — they customized it for us, too. We checked out almost every standup desk on the market before settling on this one. They have a plethora of types of desks – something for everyone.

    Although they had models that fit over their own treadmills, we already had a high-end Precor treadmill at home. Note that most of the treadmills that come from the standup desk combos have no console in front to get in the way, but ours, just like a gym model, does. So we needed the table that goes up really high, plus we needed a more narrow table since we are further back on the treadmill due to the console. Plus, we just have small laptops so no need for a wider desk.

    They took their table from the treadmill combo and created a customized top for us. Also they were able to adjust the width.

    It fits perfectly! The inner width is 34″ between the legs, the tabletop is 36″ wide and 18″ deep. The height goes up to 54 inches!!!! Yayyyh! Finally we found one that fit our needs over our treadmill! (good luck finding one that tall, and, if you do, good luck getting the rest of these dimensions.)

    It was pretty easy to assemble, and putting things together is not my forte. We ordered the “left-handed” model, which is just having the crank on the left side, since our treadmill is up to the wall on the right side. We really appreciate a manual operation, although they certainly have electric models. I don’t want another thing to have to plug in, and it takes so little effort to crank it, why bother with electric.

    Their customer service is outstanding. Their prices are far, far better than any other desk of this quality, and especially compared to companies who are willing to customize for you.

  • Reply colon August 25, 2013 at 5:02 am

    No love for the sitting people getting contispation, rectal bleeding, or colon cancer but needs a paycheck?

  • Reply pujashaha02 August 30, 2013 at 4:41 pm

    Flexi Solutions offer a range of customised height adjustable desks for use in the workplace, education and the healthcare industry.
    more information then visit: http://www.flexi-solutions.com.au

    computer height table

  • Reply Cindy September 9, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    Hi Carly,
    Your co-workers have the right idea with a stand-up desk, they just don’t have the RIGHT stand-up desk. UpDesk is a standup desk that not only allows you to stand, but also have the option to sit. Andto switch from sitting to standing only takes is the push of a button since it has a programmable electric lift. UpDesk now has a new model that is called the UpWrite. An UpDesk with a white board desktop. It’s fabulous. I myself have a black one and love it. You can see them for yourself at http://www.myupdesk.com. Be sure to check out the awesome commercial for the UpWrite.

  • Reply Andrea Stephensq September 23, 2013 at 6:39 pm

    Other than the fact sitting is HORRIBLE for your back and posture. I wish I had the option. I jut came off a back surgery for a herniated disc in my back which causes sciatica so bad enough I went though with surgery at 29. I was eating about 4 hydrocodones a day and still in agonizing pain. Right now I wish I could stand up at my bookshelf but here I am, fucking off again because the itnernet won’t work unless I’m bound to my desk. Which again, is killing my back. So pissed.

    http://www.theguardian.com/society/us-news-blog/2012/jul/10/scientists-sitting-is-bad-for-you

  • Reply Focal Upright Furniture October 7, 2013 at 5:12 pm

    Standing is better than sitting all day, but for an option that gives you the best of both worlds, try the Locus Workstation from Focal Upright. It is the only ergonomically-designed workstation that puts you in an optimal leaning posture, so you are upright but supported. Check it out: http://www.focaluprightfurniture.com/

  • Reply Christina October 7, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Standing desks aren’t over-rated–standing is! Doing anything–sitting or standing for hours on end– will cause fatigue. But after using a standing desk, I can’t (I won’t!) go back to sitting. A simple solution is to stand for awhile, then lean for awhile using the Focal Mogo http://www.focaluprightfurniture.com/mobile-mogo-seat/

    It’s an inexpensive way to take a break from standing at your standing desk to lean at your desk (without using someone’s head as a prop . . . ). Yeah, it’s a little unique looking, and for a day or two expect to have to answer questions and demo it for folks passing your desk, but after that, ahhhhh, lean on my friend, lean on.

  • Reply Charles October 23, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    Funny write up and pics! Some valid points. Its a balance. Sitting for years is brutal to your body. Standing I have found also to be a bit much. Especially if your very active. A sit/stand combo is perfect.

  • Reply Darryl Villamor November 22, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    I have a stand-up desk and love it. Here’s the burning question: After reading, I just want hang photos of good looking women at my workstation. I’m told it’s sexist. Why is that?

  • Reply Vanessa Blaylock December 20, 2013 at 6:34 pm

    Hi Carly Bird!

    What a beautiful website! And what a great, funny, and true post! You’ve legitimately identified a lot of not-so-smart-after-all misconceptions about the “great” stand-up desk.

    The thing is, many decades of research really does show that sitting is bad for your health. The first research I’ve heard about is from early last century. Some British researcher noticed the curious fact that on average bus drivers died at a younger age than bus ticket takers. The research seemed to say that even the activity increase of walking through be bus instead of sitting in the driver’s seat made a real impact on how much time you had to enjoy life in this world. Since then, more and more research.

    So sitting is bad. But as you show with such great honesty and humor, standing is fatiguing. I actually do like to stand, but I can’t do it for all that long. The answer is NOT a “standing desk,” it is a “treadmill desk!”

    Walking is better for you than standing anyway, and even though you’d think it’d be more work than standing, it’s not. I’m tired after an hour or so of standing at my desk. But I can walk all day and I feel great. And you only walk at 1 mph or so, so it’s not running at all. You can talk on the phone and you’re not out of breath. You don’t sweat. You can wear nice clothes.

    I have the luxury of working in my own studio, so I have both a chair and a treadmill desk. I like to sit for a while, stand for a while, walk for a while.

    These days you can buy fancy treadmill desks or just make your own. I already had a nice drafting table, so I stuck a large monitor on an arm in front of it and put a treadmill up against it. I’m really happy with it.

    Thanks for the lovely post and the wonderful blog Carly Bird! Keep up the great work and best wishes for life, career, and everything else in 2014!

  • Reply Karim January 3, 2014 at 1:09 pm

    your company is cheap for making people build these silly ikea standup desks.

    A proper electronic sit stand desk is optimal and I have one at home which i can use to adjust very easily.

  • Reply Evelyn January 31, 2014 at 6:05 am

    Found your blog looking for a “standing desk” chair – oh the wonders of the internet to bring me here. You had me laughing from your intro sentence to the end. Priceless pictures and captions.

    Maybe I’ll try the box on my head idea tomorrow and see how that goes over. Since I am at a standing desk, sort of in the sight line of the CEO’s office I should get good visibility and possibly set a new trend. Will give you full credit and report back. :)

  • Reply Bob March 23, 2014 at 2:58 am

    I swear my IQ just dropped.

  • Reply Will April 14, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    I may be biased because I’m in a wheelchair, lol. But, I definitely prefer the typical office desks. Having to deal with the extra blocks in my way kinda gets annoying. I guess I’m a space hog? My boss had no bones about hooking me up as long as i found some cheap office furniture, haha

    So i did!

    http://www.osioutlet.com

  • Reply josh April 19, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    This article ignores the heart of the issue, quite literally. Prolonged sitting can lead to heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes, and obesity. Just google “too much sitting” and see for yourself!

  • Reply Ideas for creating a productive & healthy workspace | Startup Marketing May 1, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    […] standing desk. This idea is rapidly gaining popularity (although not with everyone). Our colleague Melanie can often be found standing at her desk. While she initially had some […]

  • Reply Advice for Standing Desk users. - Posture People June 23, 2014 at 9:32 am

    […] on the lower back, give you sore feet and exacerbate varicose veins. One office worker details how standing desks can be problematic in a shared office, causing colleagues to find alternatives to sitting and highlighting the hazards […]

  • Reply Shan July 10, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    It’s lying down. You go lie down, you don’t go lay down. That woman is lying down. FTLOG. Lying down.

  • Reply Trevor July 26, 2014 at 7:26 am

    I have vertdesk adjustable height desk means you can switch between sitting & standing by pressing a button . I feel comfortable with this desk. This desk Raises to 48.75″ and lowers to 23″. So you can easily adjust its desk height according your requirement. if you have problems in your feet during work on standing desk. You can use standing desk mat to get rid of feet pain problem. If you don’t mind you can check review of adjustable height desk published by me.

  • Reply Mojo Creator January 3, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    We use stand up desks and they are a huge part of our focus on health maintenance. We offer each employee two monthly massages, two acupuncture sessions and a free membership to a gym. The standing desk is a very important piece to this system.

    You comments seem focused on building the desk and the desk functionality. If you took those two arguments out you will be left with a system that allows you to sit or stand within seconds, no blocks and no Ikea setup. We use UpDesks at our office and they have been a great addition. Within seconds we can move our desk up or down. Add a balance board to the system and using a desk turns into more than typing a keyboard.

    • Reply doug s. April 6, 2015 at 7:41 pm

      even an ikea set-up works great. i made one for my wife, who works at home. (took about an hour, if you discount the shopping). the trick is to have two sets of shelf brackets and vertical bracket supports, instead of the ikea brackets. that way, it takes about 1.5 seconds to move the shelf from one set of brackets to the other when you are moving from standing to sitting. after all,it only supports the keyboard.

  • Reply Dan January 15, 2015 at 5:33 am

    I made a nasty stand-up desk at my job. It took some getting used to, but after a month of sticking with it I’m standing up for 8-9 hours a day with no pain at all.

    I documented my experience here:

    http://dandorset.me/wp/?p=249

  • Reply Chicago Stemcell Therapy February 6, 2015 at 11:48 am

    very great post………….!

  • Reply Dhawal Damania March 4, 2015 at 5:09 am

    There is a Fix for this though, instead taking a standing desk, I’d recommend purchasing a Sit Stand Desk, so you can easily switch between sitting and standing with the help of a lever, to go a step further, there are electric height adjustable desks available in the market too, http://www.jasonl.com.au/office-furniture/height-adjustable-desk/sky-high-electric-height-adjustable-desk one of them I could find.

    Having Said that, sitting from 9-5 have more repercussions, google for it and you’d know.

    My two cents

  • Reply doug s. April 6, 2015 at 7:37 pm

    don’t worry, carly. you will die much sooner sitting at work all day. so you won’t have to put up w/stand up desks very long. ;~)

  • Reply Dmitry November 23, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    There is a lot of medical research showing the harmful effects of too much sitting.
    For one thing it puts unnecessary strain on your spine and weakens vertebral ligament see Dr/ Stuart McGill’s research.
    for anther thing it is linked to the whole range of other health risks… due to exceptionally low level of physical inactivity while sitting
    http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005

  • Reply Dustin Pratt December 6, 2015 at 8:15 pm

    Great article and great points. I think you should take a look at what I made at OMBEE.com
    While I agree with most of what you said standing all day is hard and took me about 3 months to build up to. Also you don’t want to just stand all day you need to keep the feet and lower legs moving.

  • Reply dudester April 29, 2016 at 10:46 am

    dunno why this post is so popular. it’s funny. but it makes a mockery of standing up, instead of being of any help. sitting is a problem, so standing seems to be the only option we have, for now, until technology changes at least.
    I tried all sorts, now I’m thinking of getting a drafting chair, I already have a large adjustable desk.. that I normally use at regular, sitting height. because standing for hours is not healthy either, and it’s also very tiresome. so you can’t focus on your work.
    humans were designed for activity, like walking, jogging, climbing trees.. or resting. not for standing still. I can walk all day and I’ll need very little rest. but standing all day is just as bad as sitting all day.

  • Reply lucky_l August 18, 2016 at 9:10 am

    Too much sitting is bad. Too much standing is also bad. It’s better to transition between sitting and standing and stretch often. People with arthritis usually can’t sit nor stand long. A sit stand desk can help relief the pain. http://www.chronicbodypain.net/how-can-sit-stand-desks-help-with-arthritis/

  • Reply Berris-Dale Joseph October 8, 2016 at 4:08 pm

    Well, I had for years sensed in my own body a repulsion to sitting down at times. It seemed as if something dreadfully terrible was happening to me. But I thought it was just me, not realizing it might have had to do with the research finding on the negative effects of sitting, especially disproportionately. When I was substitute teaching I used to prefer standing than sitting without knowing why. But I gave to it. I thought that something was wrong with me. And maybe so. But I think I am learning better now. However, I also took note that I only liked to stand for a fraction of the time, and sit the rest. There comes a time when they body demands sitting, but first the standing must be done. I did my standing first, before sitting. Ever wonder why you had to stretch so much when you got up from sitting down? Because you sat down for too long. Try smart sitting like the smart board, if you must sit. That is, sit long enough to cheat yourself from having to stretch so much when you get up. Perhaps if you did not have to stretch is a good measure of the tome you should or could sit. Sitting is still fine. It is still good to sit at times. There is a time to sit and a time to stand. The thing is to know how long to sit from how long to stand. Use the point of not having to stretch as a marker. Measure that time frame to get an idea how long to sit before you must get up again. Yes, it is absurd to now try to stand all day long, and to try to make regular students desk become obsolete, but to sit you must be fit. And that by standing time that outweighs your sitting time.

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