Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

Fred Tracy · 10-05-2011, 07:17 PM

Hey you fine forum folks.

I had a friend tell me about a cool idea recently. Instead of sitting all day at the computer and getting cramps and having the profile of the chair by the time I'm 40, why not stand instead?

To that end, I've set up an extremely lackluster but effective workstation. Essentially, I stuck my monitor on top of my TV stand in my computer on a chair next to the stand.

I'm on day two of standing while I work, and though my legs are little sore, I find I have more energy and best of all my back doesn't end up hurting.

I've also heard of people losing weight doing this (a no-brainer).

This may be harder to pull off an office setting, but it can be done.

What do you guys think? Are you sick of sitting?

raykilleen · 10-05-2011, 07:57 PM

Yes, as an engineer I’ve often thought of a computer table that would easily change from sitting to standing like the old time drafting boards, stand when you want sit when you want.

Curtis2011 · 10-06-2011, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raykilleen

Yes, as an engineer I’ve often thought of a computer table that would easily change from sitting to standing like the old time drafting boards, stand when you want sit when you want.

Do these exist? Is there somewhere I can buy one?

danthony · 10-06-2011, 02:05 AM

I'm actually looking to purchase a stand up workstation fairly soon or at least by 1st part of next year. Much better for you physically.

NickGustafson · 10-06-2011, 04:37 AM

This sounds like a really great idea, I'll try it sometime!

MariconesUnited · 10-06-2011, 01:12 PM

Standing is overrated. Find me a way to work while laying down in bed and we're golden!

Fred Tracy · 10-06-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariconesUnited

Standing is overrated. Find me a way to work while laying down in bed and we're golden!

LOL no joke. I need to get a laptop actually. That way, I can stick it on top of my TV stand when I want to stand, put it on my computer desk when I want to sit, and work from my bed when I want to lay down.

That being said, this isn't exactly an adjustable desk, but it is a desk combined with a treadmill: Treadmill Desk from TrekDesk

I made a post about this on Facebook and someone said "why not take it to the next level"?

Yeah.. no kidding.

Clint Cora · 10-06-2011, 06:20 PM

You still have to move. I use to stand all day doing trade shows and they were killer! So I think whether sitting or standing, the trick is to take breaks and move around to avoid those cramps.

Aminka Ozmun · 10-06-2011, 06:42 PM

My boyfriend actually bought the TreadDesk (not TrekDesk, but TreadDesk -- which is no desk, but a treadmill!) last year and loves it. I use it too, actually, though he uses it a lot more than me.

I cannot recommend them enough. It's weird at first, of course, but you quickly get used to it. Mileage varies (no pun intended), but most folks adjust anywhere between a day to three weeks.

The benefits are really astounding. And lots of corporations use 'em -- though still a tiny, tiny minority, to be sure -- such as Best Buy and, IIRC, AOL. Check out the ning! group Office Walkers for more info! My boyfriend's on there as "Former Sedentary Athlete," FWIW. He could tell you a lot more, I bet.

VinceG · 10-06-2011, 06:53 PM

When I had my IT job, when I got tired of sitting, I'd set my monitor and keyboard up on a couple of boxes, and stand up. It wasn't ideal, I'd love one of those Tread Desks, but it did make things more comfortable!

Fred Tracy · 10-06-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Cora

You still have to move. I use to stand all day doing trade shows and they were killer! So I think whether sitting or standing, the trick is to take breaks and move around to avoid those cramps.

Yeah, I'm learning that. Right now I'm actually sitting down. Luckily for me, I use voice activation software so I don't have to have my keyboard by me to type. My TV stand is definitely too tall for me to keep sitting here. I'll have to find a good solution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aminka Ozmun

My boyfriend actually bought the TreadDesk (not TrekDesk, but TreadDesk -- which is no desk, but a treadmill!) last year and loves it. I use it too, actually, though he uses it a lot more than me.

I cannot recommend them enough. It's weird at first, of course, but you quickly get used to it. Mileage varies (no pun intended), but most folks adjust anywhere between a day to three weeks.

The benefits are really astounding. And lots of corporations use 'em -- though still a tiny, tiny minority, to be sure -- such as Best Buy and, IIRC, AOL. Check out the ning! group Office Walkers for more info! My boyfriend's on there as "Former Sedentary Athlete," FWIW. He could tell you a lot more, I bet.

Lol. I laughed out loud. The TreadDesk stuff just seems too high-power CEO style for me. I'm supposed to be all about inner peace and stuff. I definitely shouldn't be multitasking that much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceG

When I had my IT job, when I got tired of sitting, I'd set my monitor and keyboard up on a couple of boxes, and stand up. It wasn't ideal, I'd love one of those Tread Desks, but it did make things more comfortable!

I should have thought of that back when I had an office job. Oddly enough, one of my friends mentioned that people at her work stand up. There's at least a couple of them, so it looks like we are a growing minority!

Aminka Ozmun · 10-06-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Tracy

Lol. I laughed out loud. The TreadDesk stuff just seems too high-power CEO style for me. I'm supposed to be all about inner peace and stuff. I definitely shouldn't be multitasking that much.

Well, you can always sit down again, too, you know!

You should search the NYT and Google for information on this. Check out that ning! group I mentioned. You'd be surprised...lawyers, doctors, computer programmers actually do work while walking. I urge you to keep an open mind! It's not that far-fetched, if you think about it; haven't you ever been possessed by an idea, a vision, and found yourself getting up out of your seat and pacing the room in creative frenzy?

Brutha · 10-07-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Lol. I laughed out loud. The TreadDesk stuff just seems too high-power CEO style for me. I'm supposed to be all about inner peace and stuff. I definitely shouldn't be multitasking that much.

Multitasking is okay when you do one physical activity while doing one mental activity.
Different parts of the brain get used so there no interference.

Fred Tracy · 10-07-2011, 06:44 PM

Oy, you guys speak with a ring of truth.

And yeah, it seems like I do my best thinking while I'm exercising or running around.

I may just have to check this one out.

michellesears · 10-07-2011, 06:50 PM

Yes this is becoming more popular these days. There is a lot of talk around my office about installing standing workstations for health reasons.

Not long ago there was this article on MSN about the effects of sitting all day and how even if you exercise it doesn't reverse the damage of sitting all day.

So for myself, I choose to get up from my chair and walk around for 5 minutes every hour. Makes me feel better for now but I am considering a standing workstation too.

Fred Tracy · 10-09-2011, 07:56 PM

Can you link me to that article? What irreversible damage are you talking about?

And as for setting up a standing workstation, it may be easier than you think. I told a friend about this and she set up her workstation in no time. I'm not quite sure how she did it, but she didn't get any special accommodations or anything.

steve0617 · 11-21-2011, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Do these exist? Is there somewhere I can buy one?

Easiest one is Geekdesk: GeekDesk Adjustable Height Desks - Home

Basically a liftable drafting table.

10-05-2011, 07:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fred Tracy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 717	Standing Up While Working at the Computer Hey you fine forum folks. I had a friend tell me about a cool idea recently. Instead of sitting all day at the computer and getting cramps and having the profile of the chair by the time I'm 40, why not stand instead? To that end, I've set up an extremely lackluster but effective workstation. Essentially, I stuck my monitor on top of my TV stand in my computer on a chair next to the stand. I'm on day two of standing while I work, and though my legs are little sore, I find I have more energy and best of all my back doesn't end up hurting. I've also heard of people losing weight doing this (a no-brainer). This may be harder to pull off an office setting, but it can be done. What do you guys think? Are you sick of sitting?

10-06-2011, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Aminka Ozmun Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 209	Yep My boyfriend actually bought the TreadDesk (not TrekDesk, but TreadDesk -- which is no desk, but a treadmill!) last year and loves it. I use it too, actually, though he uses it a lot more than me. I cannot recommend them enough. It's weird at first, of course, but you quickly get used to it. Mileage varies (no pun intended), but most folks adjust anywhere between a day to three weeks. The benefits are really astounding. And lots of corporations use 'em -- though still a tiny, tiny minority, to be sure -- such as Best Buy and, IIRC, AOL. Check out the ning! group Office Walkers for more info! My boyfriend's on there as "Former Sedentary Athlete," FWIW. He could tell you a lot more, I bet.

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10-05-2011, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
raykilleen Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Zionsville PA Posts: 338	Yes, as an engineer I’ve often thought of a computer table that would easily change from sitting to standing like the old time drafting boards, stand when you want sit when you want.

10-06-2011, 02:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
danthony Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 426	I'm actually looking to purchase a stand up workstation fairly soon or at least by 1st part of next year. Much better for you physically.

10-06-2011, 04:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
NickGustafson Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 8	This sounds like a really great idea, I'll try it sometime!

10-06-2011, 01:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
MariconesUnited Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Montreal Canada Posts: 735	Standing is overrated. Find me a way to work while laying down in bed and we're golden!

10-06-2011, 06:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
Clint Cora Family Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mississauga, On Canada Posts: 1,502	You still have to move. I use to stand all day doing trade shows and they were killer! So I think whether sitting or standing, the trick is to take breaks and move around to avoid those cramps.

10-06-2011, 06:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
VinceG Family Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 3,703	When I had my IT job, when I got tired of sitting, I'd set my monitor and keyboard up on a couple of boxes, and stand up. It wasn't ideal, I'd love one of those Tread Desks, but it did make things more comfortable!

10-07-2011, 06:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
Fred Tracy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 717	Oy, you guys speak with a ring of truth. And yeah, it seems like I do my best thinking while I'm exercising or running around. I may just have to check this one out.

10-07-2011, 06:50 PM	#15 (permalink)
michellesears Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: MI Posts: 13	Yes this is becoming more popular these days. There is a lot of talk around my office about installing standing workstations for health reasons. Not long ago there was this article on MSN about the effects of sitting all day and how even if you exercise it doesn't reverse the damage of sitting all day. So for myself, I choose to get up from my chair and walk around for 5 minutes every hour. Makes me feel better for now but I am considering a standing workstation too.

10-09-2011, 07:56 PM	#16 (permalink)
Fred Tracy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 717	Can you link me to that article? What irreversible damage are you talking about? And as for setting up a standing workstation, it may be easier than you think. I told a friend about this and she set up her workstation in no time. I'm not quite sure how she did it, but she didn't get any special accommodations or anything.

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums