I’m writing this post standing up at my desk.
I have to say: It’s a little weird. I’m not used to this vantage.
But it also feels healthy. Not only is it actually healthier to stand than to sit, but it actually feels healthy. I’m active instead of stagnant, and my body knows it.
Let’s back up a little bit to nearly a year and a half ago when I read about the danger of sitting at a desk all day, which is exactly what I do for 14-16 hours a day. At the time, I tried to undo some of that damage by being active in short spurts throughout the day. That helped a little bit, but I knew I needed more.
That’s why I discovered that IKEA had designed a large standing desk that converted to a sitting desk with the press of a button. That function was particularly important to me, as I learned from summers waiting tables at restaurants that I need to take breaks from standing every now and then.
Unfortunately, IKEA wasn’t in St. Louis, and they don’t ship this desk (called the Bekant). However, glory be, IKEA decided to open a store just down the street from me, and I’ve been waiting ever since to get the desk.
Today was that fateful day. I approached the IKEA with trepidation, intimidated by its size, crowds, and Swedish words. Fortunately my friend Katy had the afternoon off and was able to be my guide, steering me through piles of teacup candles and throw pillows. IKEA does a brilliant job of making you walk past nearly every item on your path through the store.
I stayed the course, though, and I officially became the first customer in IKEA history to only buy the one thing I intended to buy.
That’s when the real work began: The assembly.
It actually wasn’t too bad–this is no horror story of deciphering impossible instructions. They were pretty clear, and I had Biddy and Katy to help.
Finally the desk was installed and half of my office was rearranged, dusted, and vacuumed…and I got to work at my new desk. I have to say, it’s magnificent. It’s worth every penny, especially for the health benefits I hope to reap from it. And the cats aren’t too freaked out by it–in fact, Walter lied down in front of the keyboard and purred incessantly for a while as I worked.
Now that I’ve written this post, I’m going to sit down for a while. My legs aren’t used to this!
*sigh* I’ve wanted a sit/stand desk for a while but that is not in my budget. Bookmarked, though! I brought my first IKEA purchases, a flat-pack but small set of shelves, home on the BUS and then the TROLLEY in Philadelphia (the store was 110 minutes away from my house, and public transit was all I had in 1987!) I got some weird stares, but it was worth it. I also spent the final four hours before going into labor with my daughter (who was born at home, as planned), walking around our IKEA store. They have tripled the footprint of the “Seattle” store, which is actually in Kent, WA, and I am a pro at getting just the thing I want and avoiding all the gee-gaws that do speak to me. LOL I hope you joined the IKEA “Family” club to save $75 on that desk. 🙂
Oh yes, I signed up for the family club while I waited in line. 🙂 I’m impressed by your devotion to IKEA! Well done at keeping your focus when you go there. I almost caved for a chocolate bar at checkout, but I had already bought chocolate earlier in the day.
Awesome! Now you just need to add the bottom of the treadmill/stationary bike and you can walk/jog/bike and work at the same time!
I can kind of walk in place at the standing desk! 🙂
Definitely look at getting a really thick mat to stand on while you’re working – it will make a *huge* difference as to how long you can stand for.
(Written at my stand-up desk)
A thick mat on top of the carpet?
How thick is your carpet?
If it’s like crazy-thick shag pile, maybe not 🙂
Anything less and it’s definitely worth considering. I had carpet in my home office when I started using a stand-up desk, and I was still getting really sore legs. I got a thick mat, and it helped hugely.
Also, I don’t know if you work barefoot at home, but if so, consider wearing shoes as well (alongside the mat on top of the carpet).
Basically, the more padding, the easier it is to stand up for long periods of time.
These are great tips. I’ll hunt around for something to stand on that doesn’t impede my chair.
I am one of those restless people, mostly because I exercise enough now that sitting still feels wrong. I have discovered that standing in a meeting, especially if you pace around a little, makes people take you waaaaay more seriously, so much so that it’s amusing, and I find myself trying to figure out if it’s a respect thing or a fear thing. Standing in your office apparently has the same result… more respect, and less loitering. In your house by yourself, none of this matters, but it’s interesting anyway.
You need this… and I swear, the art for this item looks like they stole it from Viticulture, doesn’t it? https://smile.amazon.com/Anti-Fatigue-Comfort-Commercial-Station-Cashiers/dp/B00VQOWW0A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444196821&sr=8-1&keywords=cashier+floor+mat
or this commercial-grade one, which is the way I would go, except for art:
https://smile.amazon.com/Sky-Anti-Fatigue-Midnight-Black/dp/B00M8O122G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_328_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=14SWWMTRWPFWPKTSXE59&dpID=31Aeq71ZxjL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_
Julia: I’ve felt the same way over the last few days! There’s something about standing up that feels official and important.
Thanks for the recommendations. I actually did already buy a standing mat yesterday, and it should arrive tomorrow. 🙂
I didn’t know there was an IKEA in St. Louis now. I thought the closest one was Cincinnati. I could probably make a 2 1/2 hour trip to St. Louis, there was no way I was making it all the way to Cincinnati. My partner and I just got married and we got a good chunk of change from her parents. Maybe I need to start looking through the IKEA catalog.
#thanksobama… err… #thanksjamey
Indeed, it just opened up less than a month ago. It’s pretty great!