Stand up to work back strain
March 31st
Daniel Pataki
Productivity
4 comments already, the latest by tomos, why not join the discussion?
Reading a post about standing tables on Lifehacker, their point really hit me. I mean right up until a bit before the computer and office age, how much time did people spend sitting down? Way back, for millions of years people would be hunting, gathering, washing, cooking, doing all the chores that required them to stand up.
In fact, I doubt people sat down much at all, apart from perhaps eating, and maybe at the end of the day, apart from that they mostly laid down I would think. Later on nobles and kings might have done some sitting, but even they were on the move much, much more than the average person today. Serfs and peasants also had their hands full of stuff to do, so up until not too long ago, sitting was not a big part in a persons life, at least not compared to today.
I spend at least 13 of my 16 waking hours sitting down and it takes a huge toll on my back. I can constantly “feel” my back, and toward the end of the day it hurts. It doesn’t really help if I stand up often, since 90% of my time is still spent sitting. Once I read the post above, I decided to try it out for myself.
There’s a small telephone table here which is actually in perfect height for me, and I spend 30 minutes working standing up. It feels a bit werid, but it was surprisingly refreshing. I can’t tell yet if my back is better, since one day won’t make a difference, but at least it was different, a change from my usual modus operandi.
In any case, standing is a much more natural state for your spine, so if you have the opportunity either buy, or build a standing desk, so you can alternate between standing and sitting. I can’t use the phone table because I can’t live without my mouse, and it’s just big enough to hold the laptop, keeping me stuck with the touchpad. Please, please let me know if you have any experiences with this or any tips!
I had this same set of thoughts, and process (except instead of telephone table I tried out to the idea on a mobile laptop stand). I ended up buying a GeekDesk adjustable height desk frame and using a hollow core door for a top. It’s worked fabulously! I strongly encourage you to go ahead and make the investment; I did about a year ago now, and will never go back. It has made a huge difference for my back and energy level.
At any rate, I got mine on eBay at the time, but it looks like they don’t sell them there anymore (who does sell there anymore?). http://www.GeekDesk.com is their home base now apparently, with a store on the way (according to their site), in case you are interested in checking out that approach.
Thanks a whole lot there Dave, I’ve been looking for ones where I live without success, I might order one from here, thank you!
this a bit old now – hope you get this.
Standing does sound like a good idea but even there improved posture would help immensely.
Check out this thread “Posture in sitting/standing ideas, tips & tricks”
I’ve been using the book for about 6 months now and can sit up straight (*really* straight – with my back stretched upwards, and without support) for a computer day (around the 8 hour mark). I’m usually the type of person who gets enthusiastic about things but drops them again pretty quickly but this “method” is self-whatstheword-well: once you start doing it properly, the back muscles get very quickly used to good posture and complain like mad when you go back to the bad (is there a word for that? self-policing? lol)
http://www.donationcoder.com/Forums/bb/index.php?topic=14770.msg128358#msg128358
The thread basically ended up being a big plug for a book by Esther Gokhale. And there’s a reson for that