So a few weeks ago, I switched to a standing desk. I’ve read that it’s supposed to be much healthier than sitting all day. Well, not exactly. Everything is good in moderation. If you sit or stand all day without change, it’s pretty bad for you. With a standing desk, I was excited to have that option of easily switching between sitting and standing all day – there are standing desk chairs believe it or not! Just don’t get this one, it’s horrible. Anyway, here are some of my takeaways from having a standing desk:
Standing Is INTENSE
When I first got my standing desk, it was an extreme physical challenge. You really have to get used to it, and it takes a while. That is why it’s so important to get a chair along with your standing desk right away. Alternate between standing and sitting. It’s not a competition, so don’t feel like you have to be macho and stand all day.
Turn On The Music For The Optimal Experience
While some people have a treadmill at their standing desk, I get a constant workout throughout the day by turning on Pandora and just dancing away while I’m working. It seriously makes working a dance party and is a huge blast. Of course, if you work in a space where other coworkers are watching you, it might get weird to shake it, but who knows, maybe they’ll join in? Just give it a try, it’ll be fun.
No Space, No Mess
Sitting desks have a large surface area and tend to get messy pretty quickly. The more stuff you can put on your desk, the more stuff you will put on your desk. A standing desk is more spacious vertically, so you really can’t have that much stuff on it – at least at your eye level. This is really nice since you don’t have to spend mental energy staring thinking of how much you need to clean your desk all day.
Better Posture
No matter how ergonomic your chair is, it is just too easy to slide in, get comfortable, and slouch. With a standing desk, that is never an option. You have a good posture when you’re standing, and most of the chairs that come with a standing desk are stools that force you to keep your back straight.
More Productivity
Because standing is so intense, you are almost forced to prioritize your time on the computer to be productive. Also, when you’re standing, you have a lot more energy, so getting things done is a lot more exciting. In contrast, when sitting, it’s just way too easy to sit back, relax, and stare at the wall or do unproductive stuff (aka look at Facebook).
Overall, I absolutely LOVE my standing desk and would not be able to ever go back to a sitting one. It’s just too much fun for me to dance all day. The chair is key though – I definitely need to sit once in a while.
Have you considered getting a standing desk or know anyone who has? What has been your experience with standing desks?
