If you’re not quite ready for a treadmill desk like the one we featured through TrekDesk? How about starting with a stand-up desk, which offers many of the same benefits? These tips from adjustable desk-maker Anthro will help you get started…
1. Be sure to make proper adjustments to your keyboard, screen, etc to fit you, not your co-worker. What’s comfortable for one person may be torture for another. The best posture is the next one. No one position is sustainable for long periods, so change positions often. Optimally, you would shift through a range of motions, mainly sitting, standing, or perching on a high stool. Maybe you’ll decide to hold one position for emailing, another for paperwork, and still another for phone calls. Or, mix it up with one type of setup at work, and a different one at home.
2. Feel the burn – Expect your feet to ache at first. Be kind to your tootsies and wear supportive shoes with cushioned soles. Kick off high heels, and if that’s not possible, sit it out that day. Foot injury happens slowly and silently – you may not be aware of a developing problem until it’s too late. Consider getting a gel mat to stand on if your workspace has hardwood or concrete floors. Be persistent. Your subconscious mind will soon register that standing signals a state of relaxed concentration. Be creative about getting your blood flowing. In addition to shifting and stretching, you may want to try yoga poses during the day. Or make up your own moves. At all times make a special effort to keep your knees slightly bent and relaxed. Occasionally elevate one foot by placing it on a footrest, low shelf or drawer, or even a waste basket.
3. Set up reminders. Schedule a reoccurring email reminder or set a clock application to buzz every so often as a reminder to stretch, shift, and stand. Go low-tech and put up notes on your computer. Best of all, join with others who are also trying to work in a healthier manner and egg each other on.
4. Never gonna give you up – It can take a while for you to build up to standing comfortably for more than an hour. That’s fine. You’ll learn to shift your weight, lean on surfaces, perch half-way on a seat, etc. One day soon, you’ll be amazed at how conditioned you’ve become.