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Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

sciencealert.com

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Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#191

Post by cies »

otabdeveloper4 wrote: post #102
_moof wrote: post #96

The whole thing is bad. We're chimpanzees chained to desks and they're trying to figure out if it's the chair that's killing us.

Humans are nothing like chimpanzees physiologically. Homo sapiens has a semi-aquatic mammal build.

Who classifies us as such, because Wikipedia does not list us as semi-aquatic mammals:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Semiaquatic_mammals

Nor it lists us in the semi-aquatic category:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiaquatic

> Humans are nothing like chimpanzees physiologically.

I think the non-humans animals that are most like us physiologically are: chimps, bonobos and orangutans.

Saying that we are "nothing like chimps" is thus plain wrong.

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#192

Post by cbovis »

vunderba wrote: post #23

Study argues that movement is better than a static position (standing or sitting). Shocker. What they're obviously missing is that when you're at a standing desk, the friction to engaging in some kind of movement is drastically decreased (unless you're talking about spinning). While I stand at my desk, I frequently find myself pacing, jogging in place, stretching, etc. I don't have to first GET UP OUT OF A CHAIR .

Tried jogging in place when reading this. Desk would shake if I tried to use it and couldn't control peripherals. Even reading content was hard.

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#193

Post by diggan »

tzs wrote: post #63

Here'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…

Sounds complicated and distracting. Just do what a lot of us do: Sit and shake one of your legs frantically and shift position every 5-10 minutes instead. You'll never sit completely still and your blood is always flowing. Helps to think as well.

Obviously you should still walk and stretch every now and then, but no need to approach it like a Pomodoro timer of distraction.

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#194

Post by bdcravens »

I have a standing desk, but probably put in that mode maybe 5% of the time. The biggest improvement for me was getting an excellent chair. Due to preexisting health issues, I have very bad lower back pain. Can't really sleep for long or do much involving leaning over without pain. However, despite all the memes about extravagance, the Aeron lets me sit for hours without any issues. (standard chairs not so much)

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#196

Post by saalweachter »

Arnt wrote: post #118
tbrownaw wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Break my concentration EVERY 20-30 minutes to move around for at least 2 minutes? That's at least halving my productivity. I approximately never need to focus to the level that standing up and pacing a bit would evict state, let alone need to focus like that for for over a half hour at a time. And I think if I was focusing like that, I'd probably just forget to take a break.

Time for HN = time to move a little. Done.

Heck, just make the rule, "no bullshit web browsing on work computer, only on phone when walking around".

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#197

Post by adrian_b »

taberiand wrote: post #93
tzs wrote: post #63

Here'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.

There is no need to break your concentration.

Whenever I do not type at the keyboard, but I think about what I should do, I stand up and walk around.

I actually think much better about the problem that I have to solve while walking than when sitting.

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#198

Post by ctm92 »

amelius wrote: post #186
ordu wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Break my concentration EVERY 20-30 minutes to move around for at least 2 minutes? It will be a break just because it needs a conscious effort. But presumably if you build a routine, a habit, it will work by itself. You will be able to continue thinking your deep thoughts, while your body will transpose itself to a treadmill, do some movements there and then transpose itself back. The tricky part is how to build an…

Maybe an automatic height adjustable table could work?

Many desks have bluetooth these days and someone already built something like that: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/desk-remote-control/id15090377...

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#199

Post by mcmcmc »

globular-toast wrote: post #119
vincnetas wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can keep working with your (aka thinking) head while moving around. Sometimes change or setting can give birth to now ideas or approaches.

Not necessarily. I can sometimes take my problem with me and sometimes that's even the best thing to do, but not always and certainly not every 20 minutes. If you're in a typical office environment it's a complete non-starter as someone at the water cooler will smash your flow into tiny pieces.

It’s not that hard to walk with headphones on and pretend you’re in a call.

Re: Standing desk might be as bad as sitting all day

#200

Post by amelius »

ctm92 wrote: post #198
amelius wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe an automatic height adjustable table could work?

Many desks have bluetooth these days and someone already built something like that: https://apps.apple.com/de/app/desk-remote-control/id15090377...

Ok, two questions: 1) can it be programmed to regularly change the height without user intervention? 2) what are the user experiences of using it this way?
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