Taking a Break

The past month has brought a few vacations and days out of the office. While working remotely earlier this week, I realized just how much I missed standing on the job (literally). My colleagues continue to ask questions: "Why do you stand like that?", "How can you stand all day?" "Is it comfortable?"

Why do I stand like this?
Because there's evidence that standing vs. sitting at work will actually improve my health.

How can I stand all day?
It's really easy -- especially when you get used to it.

Is it comfortable?
Yes. It's super comfortable and I miss it when I'm in a place where I need to sit to work.

Week in the Knees

The first week(s) with my Stand'nSit Workstation


Week One Observations: 

• I wasn't used to standing, so I realized exactly what I anticipated: it's tiring work to stand. I spend 80% of each day standing (including the mistake of wearing high heels one day). Each night, I welcomed the opportunity to sit for a few hours. 
• Because of the way my workstation is set up, people come directly into my office and behind my desk. I realized I appreciate my personal space. 

Weeks Two-Three Observations: 

• Standing is invigorating. I notice I'm more likely to be able to stand comfortably during social gatherings, vs. looking for a comfortable place to sit. 
• My absolute favorite shoes to wear while standing are my Vibram FiveFingers KSO. However, they're a bit casual for most workdays, so on most days, I wear flats and get through the day comfortably. 
• I've rearranged my desk and workstation and it's helped with colleagues coming into my office. I've preserved some of my personal space. 

This week, my boss asked: "Are you getting the results you expected with your standing workstation?" 


I love it. So far, so good. 

Why Stand Up?

I'm battling my jeans and my genes. My husband invested in a standing desk (Stand'nSit workstation) last year and I read some convincing articles that they provide health benefits, including users being less likely to have diabetes. After I read this: "After accounting for several variables, including exercise, longer sedentary time was negatively associated with waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein, fasting triglycerides" (Risk Factors Go Up When Folks Sit Down, and Vice Versa), I thought: "Sitting is not helping me."


Could this be one lifestyle change that will ultimately allow me to live longer and feel better?

I'll spend hundreds of dollars an smartphone -- just for the convenience. How much would I pay to live a life free from diabetes? What if for nearly the same investment as my smartphone (only this cost is a one-time fee) I could make my life better and longer? I'm willing to take a test drive and see what the non-scientific results are. Stay tuned...

Full disclosure: The inventor of the Stand'nSit Workstation is a friend. I'm trying out one of his test models to see if I'll like it.