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Ask Slashdot: What's Your Take On Stand-Up Desks?
An anonymous reader writes "I work at a non-profit that doesn't have the resources to automatically bend to each and every whim. However, I've been told that I can't use a cardboard box to put my computer on, for OSHA and fire prevention reasons. So the choice is, sit down for nine hours each day or else get a standup desk to the tune of 500 bucks or more. Is this worth it? Can I make one myself? Anything to know before I get in deep?" There are lots of home-grown stand-up desks out there (search IKEA Hackers for "stand-up desk" if that's your aesthetic leaning), and some ready-made ones from plainish to very expensive. If you've used a stand-up desk, what are your thoughts?
Standing for 9 hours is Very Bad.
I managed to give myself Plantar Fasciitis when I used a standing desk, due to a different injury that makes it painful to sit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis
Have you looked in the trash? People throw out perfectly fine furniture all the time. I picked up an extremely sturdy carpenter-built bookcase in the trash. It didn't have shelves but I found enough particle board to make shelves.
If your trash heap doesn't have what you need, have you considered Goodwill stores? I'm frequently amazed what I find in them. Money goes to good cause, as well.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
I've connected two monitors, two keyboards and two mice to my computer. One set is raised, for working standing up, and the other is on my desk. I stand at times and sit the rest of the time. This works great for me.
The things most frequently offered for free off of Craigslist are matresses (eww!), couches, and desks. You should be able to get a couple of desks and use the materials to create a custom desk fairly easily.
I built myself a cheap standing desk from IKEA. You get the Vika Amon table top (under $40) and the Vika Bysske table legs ($20 a pop) These legs work with the table but they are intended for the construction of a kitchen bar. 4 of these bad boys and you have yourself a standing desk. Mind your height - you want to have roughly a 90degree angle at your elbow when working. I am 6'3'' and I can get this at their maximum extension. Then I get one of those attachable shelves and tada my monitors are higher up so that I have them at eye level. Warning - this setup is not adjustable. Well it is but adjustment requires everything to be removed, desk flipped and about 20-30 minutes to re-adjust the legs so yes you can always revert to a normal desk but you can't alternate throughout the day.
I've been using my standing desk since July 2012. Things to note - I don't work at it all day everyday. I sit at work 9-5, stand at home. Expect serious leg cramps after a few days. Video games help forget the pain and condition your body for longer hauls. I can stand no problem for 8 hours+ now. I don't get tired in fact i think it keeps me more alert but I do take breaks after 4 hours. You feel it when you're finished working and take a load off on the couch/bed. You burn more calories - not sure if this is significant. You save TONS of space - great for small apartments or tight bedrooms. I've read that its healthier - so whether it is or not placebo effect bonus just don't analyze this too much... dammit I might have just lost the bonus!
It isn't for everyone. I happen to like it.
1) Step 1 is to try it. Find some acceptable method to construct a standing arrangement. Try it out for 3 weeks minimum. Week 1 sucks. You will be sore if you are not used to this. I tried things out for about 6 months before I was sold.
2) Have a plan for what you are going to do when you are sick. I bought a geekdesk that has the ability to be lowered. When you are sick, you aren't standing.
3) Get a comfortable chair for your office. Don't do this until AFTER your 3 week trial period. When you do get tired of standing, and you will, you need someplace comfy to sit for a little while.
4) Be aware you won't like sitting as much afterwards. 8 hour meetings are hard now.
I have no idea about the health benefits. I prefer standing now to sitting.
He could have saved a lot of bandwidth by simply posting:
Over a year later I'm sitting on it and my hand feels a small 'bump' between the foam seat cushion and it's zippered cloth cover. I tell him, we unzip it and I reach in and pull out a mostly empty tube of a sexual lubricant that (from the name on the tube) was obviously marketed to gay men.
If you've had the couch for over a year, I'm quite sure all of the 'gay germs' have died off and have instead been replaced by your 'homophobe germs.'
Have you ever stayed in a hotel? News flash: 500 people had sex in your bed before you slept there.
The classic quick, cheap, solid desk is an old door across two dirt-common two-drawer file cabinets.
I've two of those. the main one actually uses a pair of old AT tower cases. Two dollar-store clamps hold a smaller piece of scrap for my keyboard tray. A single cheap particle-board rear shelf for the displays sits on various blocks. Power bars are just screwed into the back edge of the door. You don't need to be a carpenter, you just need to think (less) and make a solid block structure. Trim with toy blocks for cool points.
It's not rocket science to figure a taller system for standing if you want to try that. (Some love it, some loathe it - it's kinda like kneeling chairs and ball chairs -- people rave about them briefly, then everyone moves back to traditional options.)
Good man!