If you’ve been meaning to make the switch to a standing desk but haven’t givenyet up your comfy office chair, the folks at DeskHacks have some pointers. They’re also running a challenge that will remind you to stand daily, ease you into using a standing desk, and eventually make standing as easy as sitting ever was.
Photo by Paul Houle
The challenge works like this: You sign up, and DeskHacks will email you a daily reminder to get your standing time in, starting off light and eventually getting longer as the 28 day challenge progresses. Cobble together a standing desk of some sort that makes you comfortable (we have plenty of options to consider), and get started. If you need help, we can offer some tips to help you ease into the routine.
Switching to a standing desk is a habit change, and changing habits is something you have to work at. It’s not going to come from willpower alone, and few people are able to just say “I’m done sitting!” one morning. DeskHacks explains that to really make the switch, you need to start small and practise every day. If you’re not a believer in standing desks, that’s OK too — remember, moving around regularly is key.
How to Finally Make the Sweitch to a Standing Desk [DeskHacks]
Comments
11 responses to “The Standing Desk Challenge Helps You Give Up Sitting At Work For Good”
Standing all day is not healthy either. I prefer the approach here: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/13/the-dangers-of-sitting-at-work%E2%80%94and-standing/
Every time a story about standing desks is posted i always post basically the same comment
I would have at least attempted it if the sit/stand contraptions (or even just an easily adjustable to the correct height dual monitor stand/vesa arm) were affordable.
Its too difficult to keep raising/lowering 2 monitors, keyboard and mouse all the time.
Although even if i had one I know i would never end up being a full time stander as 8 to 12 hours of work a day standing would be too hard on my legs and affect my productivity, despite the fact i recon its probably harder to procrastinate while standing. I would like to build up to 4hrs a day though.
I bought a coffee table on the weekend from ebay for $50. Ripped the metal legs off it then dropped it at my office on Sunday. Now I have a standing desk in the office on the cheap. I also bought an anti fatigue mat for my feet for $60, and grabbed a chair high enough to also sit down on when I need a break.
http://imgur.com/1C7dfoj
Nice job, if only i was skilled enough to do that but have the height adjustable to make it a sitting desk as well id be set.
Nice digs you have there, looks better than I had pictured form the description 🙂 I took a more DIY approach to mine with the monitors on a different level to the keyboard / mouse and I only use it at my computer at home (so not a whole lot), but its definitely a nice change.
These articles about standing desks make me lol, obviously people who advocate standing desks have never worked in a job where all day standing is mandatory. I come home after a day’s standing sore and tired. My knees, back, neck, legs and feet ache. My ankles are swollen and I’m starting to get varicose veins. All I want to do is go home and sit down and get the weight off my feet. My partner sits all day at a desk job. He gets home and wants to go for a run. It’s probably better for your health in the long term to sit at work and go for a half hour jog, than stand still at work and then go home and sit on the couch. Standing just leaves you sore and exhausted, having burned fewer than 150 calories more than your sitting colleagues.
As someone who sits for 8 to 12 hours (with breaks), my but and back tend to get quite sore and i cant wait to make get to the couch. But a few years ago i exhibited at an NTEN conference and i was on my feet without break for over 8 hours and i could barely walk by the end of it.
WTF are those coloured block things under the monitors?
Books?
I heard about those, but never knew what they were used for until now. Thanks lh!
Absolutely agree with this sentence : Switching to a standing desk is a habit change, and changing habits is something you have to work at. It’s not going to come from willpower alone, and few people are able to just say “I’m done sitting!” .