Thoughts on Stand Up Desks

The author set up a standing workstation after tracing a numbness problem in his right thigh to his office chair. He says the change was meant to reduce sitting time and lower his later heart-disease risk, even though standing makes his feet tired and the setup is less convenient than his regular desk.

Reading notes

#

• He first noticed tingling numbness in his right thigh, saw a doctor, and later found that the problem disappeared when he stopped using his work chair.
• He built the standing setup by raising part of his desk and lifting his MacBook Pro with a Griffin Elevator stand.
• The main drawback is that he has to move his computer, keyboard, mouse, iPhone, iPad, and water to a different desk.
• He says standing while working is uncomfortable, but he sees it as a small tradeoff for reducing the risks linked to long hours of sitting.
• He cites a New York Times piece saying men who spent more than 23 hours a week sitting in cars or watching TV had a higher chance of dying from heart disease, even when they exercised.
• He found that desk height and monitor height mattered a lot, with the most comfortable typing position close to a 90-degree bend in the arms.
• He says colleagues keep asking why he stands, and he answers with the health reason.
• Standing makes him more tired and more active during the day, and he notices that he moves around more while typing.
• He needed several days to build up to standing for the full post-lunch period.
• He wants to keep doing it and would prefer an adjustable electronic desk, but says that is not affordable right now.