Getting the Most Out of Your Stand-Up Desks

A few years ago, I bought stand-up desks for my co-worker and friend Nancy Jarial and myself. Nancy had done the cover and interior artwork on two of my books and wouldn’t take one cent. So, I bought her a desk. It’s something we’d talked about and were both interested in. We had installed shelves next to our desks with the idea of using them to set our laptops on for some stand-up work. Although it sounded like a good idea, it wasn’t very practical regarding moving cords and devices. My shelf became a place to stack my obsessive supply of Keurig cups (I had more than 20 boxes). After one more cup of coffee, it was time for me to research how to get the most out of your stand-up desks.

Getting the Most Out of Your Stand-Up Desks

After the stand-up desks were set, hardly a day went by that we didn’t both take advantage of them. Some days, we would stand more than sit. The next step for me was to take their use further. One of the reasons we wanted the desks was the health hazards of sitting for eight or more hours per day. “Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.” Mayo Clinic: What are the health risks of sitting too much?

The Next Step

For me it was deskercise. I find it difficult to hold still when I’m standing; the truth is I don’t sit still very well either. There are hundreds of examples and illustrations of stand-up desk exercises from aerobics to yoga — all you need to do is google it, and you’ll find what fits you best. I began with a few simple exercises, most of which I’ve done for years.

Hamstring Curls

Ten years ago, when I was running 15 to 20 miles a week, hamstring stretches were part of my pre-jog stretch routine. I find the exercise easy to do at my standing perch.

Calf Raises

This is natural for me. Stand on your toes, then return to flat-footed, and repeat. I often do this while standing in a line at the store.

Side Lunge

This one was new to me, but it’s easy and effective. Lunge your left leg out as far as you can safely, then return to the middle and stretch your right leg.

Desk Push Up

I’ve done something similar against the walls of my shower at home for several years. Instead of pushing off from a wall, you push off from your desk. However, test it first to be certain you won’t push the desk off its support.

Shoulder Stretches

This is another part of my pre-jog and pre-hike warm-up. My method is to fold one arm and then another across my chest and stretch. Next, I raise one arm over my head and then stretch it across my head. I also stretch my neck by moving my head as far as is comfortable in each direction, right, left, up, and down, and then holding it there for a five-count.

What’s the Next Step for Getting the Most of Your Stand-Up Desk?

I  looked at devices for stand-up desks such as treadmills (a little pricey), a miniature elliptical (under $100, but my wife had one and found it challenging to use and squeaky – she gave it to Goodwill), and there are even devices to make your bicycle stationary (getting it up the stairs every day would be a nuisance). The next step for my stand-up desk and me wasn’t adding accessories but to getting organized. I created a checklist of daily exercises with times throughout the day. Do you have a stand-up desk? How are you getting the most use out of your stand-up desk?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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