I hate standing — it makes me tired and hurts my feet. Even though I hate standing I decided that my main office desk (a 6 foot by 3 foot desk) was going to be a standing station. I didn’t do this to be cool, nor because I hate my office chair (I love my office chair). I decided that I should stand for most of the day because I want to be healthier — this has nothing to do with New Years resolutions. ((I don’t make those.))
I spend, at the very least, an hour and a half in the car each day (Monday thru Thursday). Usually you can tack on another thirty minutes or so and you can safely say that most days (Monday thru Thursday) I spend two hours in the car. That is roughly eight hours a week that is guaranteed sitting time. ((Not counting any drives I take on the weekend or Friday — my work from home day.)) Add to that another two to three hours each night when I get home and that isn’t even counting what I do, or don’t do on the weekends. Bottom line: I sit a lot, we all do.
My best guess is that I spend roughly 26 to 30 hours a week on my ass, not counting any time I sit while at my office. ((This maybe adds another 2-3 hours a week now days.))
I have linked to this New York Times post a couple of times now, but here is what it says about sitting:
Men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or as drivers) had a 64 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less.
That number startled me the first time I read it and still puts fear in me every time I read it.
Immediately after reading it I setup a part of my workstation as a standing station. I used it for a few weeks and then it quickly went unused. I just like to work with my 24” display.
Last week I decided that I really need to start taking my health seriously (I am 28 now after all) and so I decided to make the big desk a stand up station and the smaller, less comfortable, station as my sitting area.
I love this setup.
I mean I don’t love the way my feet hurt when I get home — and they do hurt — what I love is that my drive now becomes an nice time where I can enjoy sitting. Lunch is also enhanced because I allow my self to sit while eating (that is also better for you — you tend to eat less).
I don’t know if I have seen any health benefits yet, but I do know that I feel more focused and less tired with each day that passes. I know that it can’t be bad for me. I know that I enjoy working at the computer while standing and that I am less reluctant to walk over and grab something.
Standing while working has turned out to be quite nice.
Here is what the setup looks like for those interested, please note a few things:
- I just set this up a week ago so it is not fully finished.
- I added a lower side table to keep water off the desk where my computer is.
- I hoped to hide the MacBook Air in clamshell mode below the desk, but the Cinema Display cord is not long enough.
- I still need to get the wires under control.
- The chair is there for height reference.
