Standing desk with threadmill was/is a winner for me. May not be a fit for everyone but I feel like the constant walking functions as a fidget toy for me. Huge boost in productivity, creativity and I’m getting my steps in. Good amount of water and electrolytes are also part of it.
Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
171–180 of 230 posts
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#172Here's an article [1] from a few years ago from Cornell ergonomics researchers that is still relevant the discusses the pluses and minuses of both sitting and standing desks. Here is their recommendation: > Sit to do computer work. Sit using a height-adjustable, downward titling keyboard tray for the best work posture, then every 20 minutes stand for 8 minutes AND MOVE for 2 minutes. The absolute time isn’t critical…
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Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#173Earlier quoted context omitted.
Agreed, and many of mine do when I'm out with the dog or on the toilet. The thing is that those are unscripted. The point that I think the OP was making was that enforced breaks on a schedule will immediately kill any form of concentration or workflow
Absolutely, it's the regimented and very frequent schedule that is the problem. Breaks are necessary, and very useful - but if that frequency is what I have to do to stay healthy with a desk job, then I guess I'll be unhealthy Basically - movement isn't free
What works for me is that I only have a small glass of water or a coffee at my table. If I want to drink more, I have to get up and walk over to the kitchen. Early in the day this can be about about every 20-30 minutes, later it goes down to maybe 45-60 minutes. Then there are, of course, rest room breaks. So I'd say I get up and move 10-12 times a day in an unforced, natural way -- not always 8 minutes, mind, but it's about progress, not perfection.
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#174I was always told that the best position is always the next position.
It's like the Monty Hall problem, switching is always the better solution.
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#175Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#176Standing desk with threadmill was/is a winner for me. May not be a fit for everyone but I feel like the constant walking functions as a fidget toy for me. Huge boost in productivity, creativity and I’m getting my steps in. Good amount of water and electrolytes are also part of it.
Even cheaper and I like it a lot : a balance board [0].
It allows me to have my muscle to work even when I’m standing still. It’s in fact pretty pleasant.
I also tried roller skates (detachable [1]) and it’s also pretty nice. More stable than the balance board but your legs are still more free than just standing.
[0] I use this one : https://www.decathlon.fr/p/planche-d-equilibre-fitness-bois/...
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#177Here's an article [1] from a few years ago from Cornell ergonomics researchers that is still relevant the discusses the pluses and minuses of both sitting and standing desks. Here is their recommendation: > Sit to do computer work. Sit using a height-adjustable, downward titling keyboard tray for the best work posture, then every 20 minutes stand for 8 minutes AND MOVE for 2 minutes. The absolute time isn’t critical…
That essentially reads to me as "you can't both be focused on computer work and be active enough to be healthy" Break my concentration EVERY 20-30 minutes to move around for at least 2 minutes? That's at least halving my productivity. It's a total non-starter. It's the sort of advice that everyone pays lip service to, but almost no one is actually able to follow.
Use a treadmill.
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#178I have worked as dev since age of 18, I am now 42. Never had any health problems. I do some irregular sports but not very much. I don’t pay much attention to ergonomics, I just simply change my sitting position often and also take short walks. I do use standing desk sometimes but not for whole day, just for short periods.
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#179Maybe we need to, I dunno, rethink the way we work in general. Stop chasing silver bullets and admit that movement is medicine. Reading articles like this reminds me of the people I've watched exhaust every possible option for weight loss save for mindful eating and exercise.
Completely agree with you. However, what does this mean for a software engineer or anyone who must be in front of a computer for extended periods of time? I’ve moved to biking everywhere and daily walks with the dogs, but still have 8 hours where I’m mostly sedentary
I was not in the same industry, but I once had a remote job that kept me tethered to my desk because I was constantly responding to phone calls. After about two months of that, I ended up purchasing a cheap walking pad (think slow treadmill with no side rails that only goes at walking pace) from Amazon for about $120USD. This was not a perfect solution, any stretch, it provided movement instead of just standing in place.
What I mean by "rethink the way we work" is that jobs like yours (and you may not agree with this) need to be broken up into smaller chunks through the day. So, you work for 2 hours, do something else for 2 hours, work a little more for 2 hours, and so on.
I work beside a lot of programmers and CAD designers in my industry and, in fact, am trying to move over to their side of the team (currently I am the guy who builds, tests and repairs the machines they create). One thing I feel is universally true is that, while you may be sitting at your desk for 8 hours, you are really only doing any actual work for about half the time, possibly less.
Here me out; sitting in front of a computer is tough on both the brain and body. When you are tethered to the desk and 90% of your job is cerebral, to an outsider that looks like a pretty easy day, but we know it's not. Those stress hormones build up fast and because you can't get up to work them off or give them some physical purpose, you sit tensed, bouncing a leg, shoulders up to the ears, etc etc. Your body suffers and really, the output for the day could have probably been done with only 4 hours of actual computer time, instead of 8. So, open up the opportunity for our programmers to move around by doing some other stuff. If no work tasks can be assigned, the programmer should just get those 2 on/2 off times to do what they think is best, because, as far as the employer is concerned, if the output each day remains the same, who cares? Nothing changes for them and you get to stop being a pressure cooker of cortisol.
Understandably, my idea needs some massaging, so don't take any of this as 'this is the way it must be to work.' Consider it a work in progress and your suggestions are welcome.
Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day
#180I’ve been using a standing desk for the last decade, or so. I seldom sit down, to work. I no longer keep an office chair around (I’m retired, but actually spend more time coding, than I ever did, when working).
Standing is still not as comfortable as sitting, but I got used to it.
As I work, I move around a lot. Just happens naturally.
If I am on a video call, I don’t move around much, and I really feel the difference. I have friends that work remote, and are basically on video calls, all day. I couldn’t stand that.
I have an adjustable desk (hand-cranked), but never adjust it.
I have heard that’s the pattern with these $5,000 “smart” electric desks. People go up and down for a month, then settle on a constant height (not always standing), and there it stays; forever.