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Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

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101–110 of 174 posts

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#101

Standing hurts my lower back within 10 minutes. Probably a mobility issue. The pain is similar as if I try to do an overhead press. I have been squatting for 60 seconds twice a day. I should probably try hanging too. Any other ideas ?

> I have been squatting for 60 seconds twice a day. I should probably try hanging too. Any other ideas ?

Deadlifts are amazing to strengthen the lower back muscles. I used to have lower back pain from mountain biking (which can be typical of the sport), and after I took up weightlifting that pain mostly went away.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#102
post #30

Standing hurts my feet within 10-20 minutes, but I found a treadmill/walking desk to be something I could do all day long. It helped a lot with back pain, and as a side-effect it cured post-lunch sleepiness. Coding while walking was never a concentration problem for me, so I can only offer that as an anecdotal data point. It might be me, but maybe walking rather than standing makes it easier to concentrate? There wer…

"I was working in games, and testing a 3d game while walking was often disorienting and would cause me to trip on myself or walk off the treadmill."

I chuckled when I read that! I hope you didn't get hurt, of course, but it must have been quite funny for your coworkers.

Cheers for the post-lunch laugh :)

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#103
post #95

I've been standing for 5 years and love it - no back pains and feel much better physically and mentally at the end of a day compared to sitting. The biggest issue for me is foot fatigue. I now use 2 anti-fatigue mats - a rubber lower mat (Genuine Joe Anti Fatigue Mat), and a foam upper (Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series). Without these there is no way I could handle more than 6 hours. However, even with t…

Try a brick. Just alternate it between feet throughout the day. Pro tip from an old brick sculptor.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#104
post #74
post #51

A couple years ago my co-worker and I each built the $22 IKEA standing desk from iamnotaprogrammer.com[1]. We also each got a nice standing mat and stool (about $100 each), and I got a monitor mount (about $50). It's been excellent. I'd say I spend about half my time standing and half sitting on the stool. For me, rather than losing focus when I'm standing, sometimes I'll just pace around my office a bit, which I've…

Many folks mention standing on a mat. Anybody care to give specific advice on what to buy (brand, material, thickness, link, whatever)?

Rubber lower mat: Genuine Joe Anti Fatigue Mat, and a foam upper: Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#105
post #37

related to this, are there any decent standing desks for < 200$?

I've been using this setup for the last three-ish years, and it works great. http://iamnotaprogrammer.com/Ikea-Standing-desk-for-22-dolla...

I built something very similar too. My setup is to have two screens, one for standing, one for sitting (and two set of input devices). I close one screen when I'm using the other and I mirror the image on both screens.

I have another setup with an Ergotron Workfit (can be lifted up and down) but I find that the position is more adjustable with my mirror-screen version. With the Ergotron the position of the hands relative to screen is fixed so eye-screen distance can't be adjusted as well as I'd like. Also screen height doesn't go as high as I'd like.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#106
I have a standing only setup that is based off IKEA's hand cranked standing desk (I take advantage of the empty space below the desk for storage). I started with a makeshift platform on a table to make sure it was not a fad for me before getting my current setup. I found my posture improved while standing.

Having said that, I don't know if my health or anything like that improved significantly by standing.

I love working while standing, but...

I work mostly at home (and we don't wear shoes in the house). I have a standing pad, but my heels were bottoming out to the floor and eventually started experiencing heel pain. I started wearing padded slippers on top of the pad, but by that time it was a little too late. I developed plantar fasciitis in both feet. It was worse in my left foot than my right foot. My right foot has cleared up, and I'm working on stretching exercises to help clear up the left foot and have been making progress.

I am currently using a drafting stool until my left foot gets better. I really miss standing. In fact, I'm itching to get back to standing. I will be making a couple of major changes. I now wear Crocs while standing. I get that they're fugly, but they are in my experience, the most comfortably padded shoes for the price. I use the ones designed for people who work in restaurants, and they're great. I feel no pressure on my heels when using them. I also plan on alternating into sitting a little more often.

-- Notes

If you're thinking of getting the IKEA hand cranked desk, be aware that the table top that comes with it is not solid. I originally wanted to cut a hole in it to permanently mount my dual monitor stand, but doing so would have compromised the structural integrity of the table top.

From what I gather, foot problems are common with people who move to a standing only setup, so take some actions to mitigate this if you can.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#107

I've been using a LifeSpan treadmill desk for the last 5 years. I probably walk 1500+ miles each year on the treadmill, usually 4-5 hours a day (weekdays only) @ 1.5-2MPH. It's absolutely amazing, and it's so habitual now that I have a harder time concentrating when I'm not walking and typing (my legs get really restless). A really nice side benefit is when I go running or hiking, even after a long spell of not runni…

Any concern about needing knee/hip replacements at some point from all the extra walking? I've been thinking about a treadmill desk but worry about damaging my joints.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#108
post #34
post #23

I'm looking to buy or make a standing desk now. What desks are you using and do you have any recommendations?

I have a desk from the Human Solution made with reclaimed wood. It wasn't cheap, but it's solid and it looks great. Friends are always complementing me on it. It's been working well for about two years now. http://www.thehumansolution.com/stand-up-desk-with-reclaimed...

I've taken a look at that same desk. Are the surface and edges smooth, or are there rough patches that could snag/splinter? Can you write on paper on the desk surface smoothly?

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#109
post #95

I've been standing for 5 years and love it - no back pains and feel much better physically and mentally at the end of a day compared to sitting. The biggest issue for me is foot fatigue. I now use 2 anti-fatigue mats - a rubber lower mat (Genuine Joe Anti Fatigue Mat), and a foam upper (Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series). Without these there is no way I could handle more than 6 hours. However, even with t…

>> The biggest issue for me is foot fatigue. I now use 2 anti-fatigue mats - a rubber lower mat (Genuine Joe Anti Fatigue Mat), and a foam upper (Imprint Cumulus9 Kitchen Mat Nantucket Series).

You might want to try Crocs shoes. I found them to work very well for me, even without mats.

Re: Ask HN: How is your standing desk working for you?

#110

Standing hurts my lower back within 10 minutes. Probably a mobility issue. The pain is similar as if I try to do an overhead press. I have been squatting for 60 seconds twice a day. I should probably try hanging too. Any other ideas ?

I would probably look into your standing posture. My whole life I didn't know I was standing all wrong until I got a standing desk and stood incorrectly for a week. My lower back and knees (from locking them) were screaming for weeks afterwards. Now I have to learn how to stand correctly to actually use it (but of course we moved offices and I no longer have a standing desk).
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