It has been a couple of months since I started standing at work with my Varidesk station. I had to lobby for almost a year for this and was so happy when it finally came.

The Varidesk station was an awesome option because it cost $450 (versus $1500 for a motorized option) and has the ability to go from standing to sitting. The cheap stand up desk hacks you find online don’t give you the sitting option and you’ll really want that option. I also purchased a special standing mat for $60 which is essential to prevent achy feet.

On mornings where I’m really tired or after lunch I need to sit down which is why having the sitting option is so great. It takes me 2 seconds to put the desk down and pull up a chair.

Reasons I love the Stand Up Desk

Reduces Upper Back pain- A Lot!

My chronic upper back pain has been almost complete eliminated since standing. It used to be really extreme and make I love it! I have found that standing for the majority of the day has eliminated my upper back pain, which was pretty extreme.

No More Tingly Butt

My butt thanks me greatly for getting off it during the day! You know how at the end of the day your butt feels tingly and sore? That’s lack of circulation! I’m also avoiding the dreaded office worker’s flat butt!

More Alert

I leave the office feeling more like a human being and less like a zombie. When I used to sit all day I would leave the office in a daze, my eyes dry and sore and my brain fuzzy. My stand up desk has made that dead feeling go away.

Don’t Need as Much Coffee

I used to drink 6 cups of coffee a day to stay alert and awake throughout the day. Now that I’m standing I have a cup in the morning and sip green tea during the day if I want something hot to drink. Standing all day keeps you more aturally awake so you don’t need as much caffeine.

You can’t sit for long periods at a time

I look at this as a good thing but when you get out of the habit of sitting all day sitting for longer than an hour becomes torture. Your butt hurts, your legs need to be stretched, long plane rides suck.

The best part of the stand up desk?

Dancing! You get to dance while you work, how perfect is that?

Down sides of a stand up desk

Now it’s definitely not perfect there are some downsides to standing up.

Must watch posture

Like I said, my upper back pain is completely gone because I don’t have to hunch over but I do have issues with lower back on days I don’t pay attention and lean against the desk and stick my butt out. I have to make sure I keep that big booty of mine tucked in.

You have to take your heels off

There is no way you can stand all day in heels. Not possible. But it is a bit of a pain in the butt to have to take your shoes on and off as you leave your desk for things. I spent this summer in flats and I’m buying more flat boots for the winter.

Expectations of co-workers

Because HR paid for my stand up desk I feel a lot of pressure to stand all the time. Sometimes I’ll be tired and want to sit but I opt to stand instead because I’m worried people will think I wasted money.

 

Conclusion

I think the standing/sitting desk is the solution to our society’s sitting problem. It allows flexibility based on mood and you simply feel more human when you stand all day! Like anything there are a few downsides, but the upsides make up for it.