The Story of a Standing Desk Convert

Probably like you, I spend about 45 to 50 hours a week working on my computer. Up until a week ago, I did that work sitting on my ever-expanding behind. I don’t blame the desk entirely for the expansion, but it hasn’t helped. Last Monday, I adjusted my office desk to standing height. I spent the majority of the week working on my feet, and I’m never going back to an old-fashioned sit-down desk again.

Why did I switch to a standing desk?

There were really two main reasons why. One, I needed to find a way to increase my daily calorie burn and two, I suffered from intermittent back pain and really needed help obtaining better posture. When I’m sitting at my office desk, even in a fancy ergonomic office chair, I tend to slump, with my back curved and shoulders forward. When I’m standing at the desk with my forearms at a 90-degree angle, it forces my shoulder blades back and my posture straightens naturally.

I didn’t really discuss making the switch to a standing desk with my chiropractor, though there are many articles sighting the ill effects of sitting. But now that I’m standing, my back feels better plus I burn calories pacing, dancing, and fidgeting. AND, I’m killing it on my Fitbit challenge groups. I get my 10,000 steps in, in no time at all.

But don’t your feet hurt?

Yes, they did at first. I couldn’t believe that standing for the majority of the day would hurt at all. I use to work in retail so I thought I would be fine. I mean, how hard can it be – don’t you just stand there? It’s crazy! I was distracted and had a hard time focusing on anything but how much my feet hurt. The first night I sat on the couch with my feet elevated. I collapsed into bed totally exhausted.

Soon enough I got lost in work for 2 hours before I thought about the fact that I was on my feet. Now it’s my new normal. I do find that alternating between sitting and standing works best for me.  In addition, it is essential that you purchase an anti-fatigue mat to stand on. I cannot stress enough what a difference a mat makes. It really lives up to its name.

How did you convert your desk to a standing desk?

First off, it’s a bit of an investment, but it’s worth it in my opinion. I highly recommend visiting a showroom or looking for colleagues with one to try it out first. My coworker has the same desktop system. Once I saw it, I knew that it would work for me.

Since I wasn’t quite ready to dive into a full standing desk, I got the Ergo Desktop Kangaroo Plus that can sit on top of my current desk. When I’m ready to stand, monitor and keyboard platform rise on a gas-assisted spring, giving me about 16.5 inches of upward mobility. The monitor and keyboard heights can be adjusted independently allowing for a fine-tuned fit and better ergonomics.

I’m excited for a healthier year working behind my computer. If you switch to a standing desk, you won’t be disappointed. If you are in the Houston area, stop by the ROSI Office Systems showroom to see our standing desks, including the Ergo Desktop. You can also email or call us at (713) 636-5248 for more details.