Ask Slashdot: What's Your Take On Stand-Up Desks? 347
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?
stop being a needy gimp (Score:2, Insightful)
sit down, do your job. is that so hard?
My take? (Score:5, Insightful)
That I get tired of standing and want to sit down... That's my take.
They are nice for a workbench but not a computer desk unless you're always moving between several different stations. Stock Market stuff comes to mind.
In the end, sitting for 9 hours is bad but also standing for 9 hours is bad. Need to find that middle road and balance it out.
They have their uses....fans...foes... (Score:5, Insightful)
...like anything else. People with certain back conditions find sitting for any length of time would probably relish the idea of being able to stand at work for the entire period - while others would find it akin to torture to stand for nine hours straight. Sitting puts pressure on the base of your spine, but standing on hard floors is pressure on your feet and knees. Six of one, half dozen of the other.
As long as your aren't FORCED to use a stand-up desk because someone figures they take up less space or that it prevents you from falling asleep at work; then they can be a good thing. If it's a half-baked idea at further cost effective micro-management bullshit - then count me out. And set that manager on fire. Now.
Are those really the only choices? (Score:5, Insightful)
You said:
Sorry, but what about just standing up to stretch and walk around every few minutes? I hack code at a traditional desk, but I'm certainly not chained to my chair. Walk around, go to the water cooler, talk to your peers, go outside for lunch. Even if you had a stand-up desk you should still move around a little.
Re:My take? (Score:4, Insightful)
Use a high bench with a tall chair. You can stand when you want to, and sit when you want to.
what the? (Score:1, Insightful)
"I can't use a cardboard box to put my computer on,"
OK. Protip: the make boxes out of other material.
What does that have to do with:
"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"
"Can I make one myself?"
How the fuck would we know? Can you make a desk with long legs that's stable?
Do you have cubes that allow you to mound a desk to it?
Do you have a health reason for standing? then do so. If not, then sit. Get up every two hours and walk for a minute or two.
Stand up desk is a typical solution made up by people who don't think.
Sitting for long hours is bad? Well then we should stand for long hours instead.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:4, Insightful)
My step-dad was a garbage man and would be constantly pulling electronics out of the trash to fix.
It was good to learn how to fix electronics that were already broken rather than breaking stuff that already worked.
Re:Hey buddy (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:My take? (Score:4, Insightful)
My take on all this sort of stuff, including all the supposed evidence about the evils of sitting down etc, is that it's all just a big unnecessary distraction from the simple fact that life is bad for you if you DON'T EXERCISE...very deliberately and very regularly...BOTH aerobic exercise and weight training. As a programmer I work sitting down for very long stretches with no problems, and I'm almost 59. I attribute that (and the fact that I feel at least as good as I did in my twenties) totally to the fact that I do 20 minutes of intense (but low impact) aerobics three times a week, and significantly heavy weight training twice a week. There just is no replacement.