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Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

ergo.human.cornell.edu

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Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#52
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can an incremental improvement in our lifestyle NOT make us incrementally healthier?

I think he may have been saying this sarcastically.

I too thought he was being sarcastic, but then I noticed there was a complete lack of smilies and rejected the notion as absurd.

Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can an incremental improvement in our lifestyle NOT make us incrementally healthier?

Maybe linear would be more appropriate than incremental as in: not all improvements in our lifestyle will have the same impact on our health. If you stand up and move every 20-30 minutes but you eat sugary and fatty food all the time, the improvement of your small breaks will be marginal in the long run compared to all the other problems you'll get. On the other hand, if you sit down all day but eat healthier food (g…

I agree. Balanced nutrition is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, not just a sit-stand desk, and "walking around". I would argue that the effects of a sit-stand desk only mask the true, underlying problem of overall poor health choices.

Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#55

I never quite understood the appeal of standing up all day. Having done a couple of jobs in my youth which involved standing up all day and spending 2 hours a day on a train standing up, I couldn't think of anything less appealing. I love my Aeron and so does my arse.

Over the last couple of years I've been having a couple of problems at work: increasing lower back pain and decreasing attention span. I had no reason to assume either had anything to do with my desk: I, too, rock the Aeron and think it's comfy as heck. I've got my keyboard and monitor at the right height. I take breaks every 30-60 minutes and go walk around. Etc.

But as the back pain kept getting worse, I finally decided to give the standing desk thing a try about 3 weeks ago. I expected my back to start feeling better, and it did -- great! But the unexpected benefit has been vastly increased focus: I somehow feel much more motivated standing than sitting. There's something that feels incredibly silly about watching YouTube or reading Hacker News while standing, and so I just don't do it. I've been more productive these last 3 weeks than I've been in a long, long time.

Perhaps it's just the novelty of a new situation; who knows. But I'm going to stick with it, for now.

Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#56

I never quite understood the appeal of standing up all day. Having done a couple of jobs in my youth which involved standing up all day and spending 2 hours a day on a train standing up, I couldn't think of anything less appealing. I love my Aeron and so does my arse.

Over the last couple of years I've been having a couple of problems at work: increasing lower back pain and decreasing attention span. I had no reason to assume either had anything to do with my desk: I, too, rock the Aeron and think it's comfy as heck. I've got my keyboard and monitor at the right height. I take breaks every 30-60 minutes and go walk around. Etc. But as the back pain kept getting worse, I finally de…

May be something completely unrelated?

I had the same trouble ironically. Blamed my desk and chair for ages. Then I sold my car and it went away. The thing I didn't realise was that the car whilst having the perception of being infinitely more comfortable turned out to cause all sorts of muscle strains.

Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#57

I never quite understood the appeal of standing up all day. Having done a couple of jobs in my youth which involved standing up all day and spending 2 hours a day on a train standing up, I couldn't think of anything less appealing. I love my Aeron and so does my arse.

Over the last couple of years I've been having a couple of problems at work: increasing lower back pain and decreasing attention span. I had no reason to assume either had anything to do with my desk: I, too, rock the Aeron and think it's comfy as heck. I've got my keyboard and monitor at the right height. I take breaks every 30-60 minutes and go walk around. Etc. But as the back pain kept getting worse, I finally de…

> There's something that feels incredibly silly about watching YouTube or reading Hacker News while standing, and so I just don't do it.

I suspect you'll get over it.

Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#59

I was wondering about this. I've been trialing a standing desk - the best part is if you are thinking about a problem you tend to walk, where as if you're sitting down you just tilt your head to the side. But after 4 hours or so I find I get a sore back. I've been "mixin it up"... standing for an hour, sitting for a couple of hours. Or sitting in the morning, standing after lunch... so far it feels pretty good, but I…

[deleted]

Re: Cornell Ergonomics Web finds standing desks present their own issues

#60

I never quite understood the appeal of standing up all day. Having done a couple of jobs in my youth which involved standing up all day and spending 2 hours a day on a train standing up, I couldn't think of anything less appealing. I love my Aeron and so does my arse.

Over the last couple of years I've been having a couple of problems at work: increasing lower back pain and decreasing attention span. I had no reason to assume either had anything to do with my desk: I, too, rock the Aeron and think it's comfy as heck. I've got my keyboard and monitor at the right height. I take breaks every 30-60 minutes and go walk around. Etc. But as the back pain kept getting worse, I finally de…

There have been studies done -- I can't find any on a quick search -- that show that changing a working habit makes them more productive. Then it tails off. Change the habit back, and they get another burst of productivity. So you may be right, and it's just because it's new. Or it may work for you.
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