Six Reasons to Get a Stand-Up Desk
By Rachel RichardsIt’s been a couple of months since I started standing at work with my stand-up desk.
I chose the Varidesk station, which is an awesome option because it costs less than a third of the price of a motorized option, and has the ability to go from standing to sitting. The cheap stand-up desk hacks you find online don’t give you the sitting option (and you’ll really want that option). I also purchased a special standing mat for $60, which is essential to prevent achy feet.
Some mornings I may be really tired or after lunch I sometimes need to sit down, which is why having the sitting option is so great. It takes me two seconds to put the desk down and pull up a chair.
Reasons I love the stand-up desk
1. Reduces upper back pain – a lot!
My chronic upper back pain has been almost completely eliminated since switching to standing for the majority of the day.
2. No more tingly butt
You know how at the end of the day your butt feels tingly and sore? That’s lack of circulation! I’m also avoiding the dreaded office worker’s flat butt!
3. More alert
I leave the office feeling more like a human being and less like a zombie. When I used to sit all day I would leave the office in a daze, my eyes dry and sore, and my brain fuzzy. My stand-up desk has made that dead feeling go away.
4. Don’t need as much coffee
I used to drink six cups of coffee a day to stay alert and awake throughout the day. Now that I’m standing I have a cup in the morning and sip green tea during the day if I want something hot to drink. Standing all day keeps you more naturally awake, so you don’t need as much caffeine.
5. You can’t sit for long periods at a time
I look at this as a good thing! When you get out of the habit of sitting all day, sitting for longer than an hour becomes torture. Your butt hurts, your legs need to be stretched, long plane rides suck.
6. The best part of the stand-up desk?
Dancing! You get to dance while you work, how perfect is that?
The downsides of a stand-up desk
Now it’s definitely not perfect. Here are a few downsides to working standing up:
1. Must watch posture
Like I said, my upper back pain is completely gone because I don’t have to hunch over. But I do have issues with my lower back on days I don’t pay attention and lean against the desk and stick my butt out.
2. You have to take your heels off
There is no way you can stand all day in heels. Not possible. But it is a bit of a pain in the butt to have to take your shoes on and off as you leave your desk for things. I spent this summer in flats and I’m buying more flat boots for the winter.
3. Expectations of co-workers
Because my HR department paid for my stand-up desk, I feel a lot of pressure to stand all the time. Sometimes I’ll be tired and want to sit but I opt to stand instead because I’m worried people at work will think I wasted money.
Overall, I think the standing/sitting desk is the solution to our society’s sitting problem. It allows flexibility based on mood and you simply feel more human when you stand all day! Like anything, there are a few downsides, but the upsides make up for it.
Rachel Richards hails from Southern Alberta where she leads two lives: office worker by day, and health and fitness enthusiast by night. Rachel is always on the lookout for her next adventure, whether its trekking through the mountains with just her dogs as companions, running races and triathlons (without training for them), or spending time with loved ones. Read more about Rachel’s adventures on her blog, Betty Livin.
