I’m going to start standing-sitting while working. Got a desk that can do it. Was curious how it has affected other people.
Standing a whole day usually doesn’t make my body happy, but I regularly stand for like half a day. Sometimes I even switch multiple times. When I work from home I have a standing desk, hit unfortunately at work there are only a few. So sometimes I’m forced to sit all day which I hate.
Standing at home is also way nicer because I can move around without having to check whether someone walks behind me or something. It’s nice to have some music playing and having the freedom to move with the rhythm. Or to just walk around a bit while thinking.
It’s great. Legit so good. Not only for the back but also productivity. It helps me concentrate better if I stand for like a hour in the morning and evening each.
I was forced to make the change to standup desks due to chronic neck pain issues… worth every penny.
I’ve got an ergonomic kneeling chair and it has so far been a lot better than an office chair at home for my posture.
Kneelers and bouncy balls? I hunch really badly on them and they really hurt my back.
I have a modern aeron and a progressive sit-stand slab. I stand when I’m too tired to sit. That may not be a good idea but it’s an old rule.
Anyway, I can work longer with it. Woo?
Yeah I can feel a temptation to hunch but the only other option is sitting up totally straight. Works for me most of the time. Otherwise, I stand with my laptop on a large chest of drawers.
Science behind this is fun. Apparently, standing for 8 hours straight is even worse than sitting for eight hours straight, but put a little walkpad under the standing desk and you’re good to go, as long as you don’t fall over or something.
It’s because most of the blood return to your heart is passive. The heart pumps OUT through the arteries pretty hard, but the blood finds it’s way back through the veins whenever it feels like it, it just can only go one way because the veins have valves along the way that prevent backflow. A lot of the pressure that actually gets the blood back comes from the contraction of the nearby muscles squeezing the blood up past the valves. So especially if you’re standing with your legs all the way down there from your heart, most of the work to get the blood back up is going to come from your calves and thighs flexing.
My A&P teacher very cheerfully illustrated the point by telling us there’s actually one animal that does have valves in it’s arteries.
spoiler
It’s the giraffe! It has valves in the artery going up it’s neck to help keep up enough pressure to get the blood all the way up to it’s head!
We had a guy at one of my old jobs who was trying to get a not guilty by reason of insanity charge because he was facing a life sentence for something he didn’t want to spend that time in prison for (the only time it’s worth it). Unlike most guys however, instead of faking, he actually drove himself insane! He was actually fine coming in, just had some (dubious) suicidal ideation but perfectly cognitively intact. But the doctor wasn’t buying the suicidal thing after a week or two so he started staying awake for weeks on end then slept for weeks on end, soiled himself constantly, refused to eat then binge ate. Just went absolutely feral until he really was.
One of the things he did for a while was refused to lie down at all. Just stood completely still in the hallway staring at the wall. Did it for weeks. Started to look like a candle melting down into his feet until they began to split open and weep interstitial fluid. Anyway the point is we started having to chase him around the unit a little. You’d go just stand next to him and bug him a bit until you got him to walk a little because we needed to start stimulating some blood return. I forget how that story ended he may have still been there when I finally had it with that place and left.
At least where I am at, under the desk treadmills are against health and safety regulations and very frowned upon by your local health and safety committee.
Anyone got recommendations for great/solid under-desk treadmills?
Sitting for so many hours daily was terrible for my back. Switched to a desk that raises and a walking treadmill under. Been doing that for over 10 years now. I will usually start the day walking (1.3 MPH is my sweet spot) stand for meetings ( since my treadmill is too noisy after all these yeara), and sit a bit towards the end of the day.
My job is a combination of office and hands-on tasks. My desk is sit-stand but I never raise it. I get up and walk around when I need a break from sitting at my desk. Sometimes I walk a lap around the building. Sometimes I walk up the stairs, then down again. Me and my coworkers like doing squats as a greeting when we pass each other in the corridors. (Nobody shakes hands after the pandemic anyway)
I have a sit/stand desk and it’s great. I feel like my posture has improved and being on my feet all day bothers me less. I really want to get a small treadmill so I can walk and work. That would be the dream.
Pilates for 20mins a week fixed my bad desk posture.
Why are they wearing high heels for a posture infographic?
Cause how would you know that they are a womanly feminine well attired businesswoman without the heels? What if someone gets confused??
Gender norms be like that
They can’t reach the standing desk without high heels. /s
I just noticed. Its funny. i ddg the image and added the link.
Yeah come to think of it why is one of them nazi saluting?
No she’s not, but she’s pointing at that fine ass through that glass panel
Because the infographic recommends them?
I have an electric standing desk (converts in seconds) and imo it’s extremely overrated and doesn’t actually do anything.
The science behind this is extremely unconvincing other than “standing is fun sometimes” which is great but you shouldnt force yourself if it doesn’t work for you.
What actually works - raise your monitor, lower your keyboard, get a vertical mouse, get a ergonomic keyboard with a track point, get compression socks if you’re older and do some yin yoga / stretching. These things actually work. Just listen to your body as you can feel the exact strain and discomfort if you actually pay attention to it.
Also posture is not harmed through idle poses, you don’t want to keep your back straight at all times - that’s stupid. Main enemy of posture and all muscles is strain and this is fixed by stretching and exercise not standing with a straight back.
I listened to some ergonomics person in the office and stood at my desk for years. Now I have a varicose vein. Which it seems might be caused by standing too much. Thanks, ergonomics person.
You forgot one thing…stand up and walk around even for a few minutes every few hours.
I have the same, and I mostly got it to be able to make minor height adjustments while sitting, but now I love it.
I only stand for a few hours of work, but it’s a major comfort difference to me compared to the office.I would think this would be the key aspect of the standing sitting desk. Being able to move positions all day long.
anti fatigue mat
Crocs. Stupid-ass looking crocs will absolutely save you when at a standing desk. Or really, standing for a long time on any hard surface like a concrete office floor. The next best thing would be high-end business shoes designed for comfort while you deliver powerpoint all day, or just hiking boots. But crocs are really the most comfortable and are easy to slip off for more appropriate dress shoes if you’re in an office.
Thicker and softer than any standing mat, they freaking deliver. And you can move around without having to be perfectly positioned in a small area. Also, there’s no mat to get in the way of your chair when you sit down.
The nubs on croc insoles are not that great and start to irritate me after a bit. Maybe there are reduced-nub alternatives out there.
There are all kinds of off brands. Many don’t use the same kind of foam though so they’re not as dense. Many are softer.
For me it’s a difference but I’d say it’s minor as for as what I can truly tell. I’m more comfortable now that I can sit or stand when I want. Sometimes I’m restless so being able to stand and easily move while I work feels good.
I enjoy poaching while in meetings, helps me think so it just made that easier. I used to stand 80% of the day now I find myself sitting 80% of the day.
During COVID I switched from a sit-stand-walk around type job to WFH sitting for the full 8+ hours. I found myself spiraling into some real hip and lower back pain until I invested in some new home office furniture to enable more standing and moving around.
Cheapo walking treadmill was the best $125 Bezos bucks I spent during lockdown.
Walking makes a huge difference.
I average around 14,000 steps a day, and the health benefits to your heart, lungs, joints, and back can’t be overstated.
Can you elaborate on the specific benefits you saw? Did you notice anything in terms of health metrics? Resting heart rate, HRV, blood pressure, watch sleep quality, etc.? I need some motivation to overhaul my desk setup lol.
For me, the biggest benefits have been:
- Significantly-reduced lower back pain
- Better sleep, and I fall asleep more easily
- Mood. (Note that it only takes 20 minutes of activity to get endorphins flowing)
- I don’t get winded as quickly climbing stairs.
Thanks! I could use some improvement in 3 of those, so definitely worth trying.
