A Standing Desk Makes Me More Productive, Even If It’s Not “healthier”
Each discussion table standing today – a debate about whether more useful if they were healthier than sit all day , or this good for health – bullshit . None of this matters to me. What, however, is that my standing desk made me more productive, creative, and generally more active. That’s all I want from it.
The standing position makes my work more relevant.
For me, sitting is a switch in my brain that tells me it’s time to rest. Standing the other way around. When I stand while working, things that would normally only involve my brain and hands turn into work that involves my entire body. Doing simple things like typing, reading, and following links takes my whole body effort. I have to keep myself in hand, no matter how simple the task may be. If this sounds boring, then it is. But it’s good. It’s just the physical nature of what I’m standing about when I’m doing my job, combined with the mental energy I bring to the table, and it makes everything feel important. It gives my day momentum and urgency. This urgency helps me focus and focus.
Standing, I tell my brain that I need to do shit and I can’t rest until it’s done. Everything matters a little more, and instead of opening a tab to mess around on Facebook, I actually work faster. Not casually, but like: “I am completely absorbed in what I do.” I get into the zone faster and stay in it longer. I avoid distractions and stay productive because I know getting work done means I can rest earlier. At the table, standing, my innate laziness makes me more productive.
A standing position puts an end to the lazy beginnings of the day
This urgency I feel when I work at a standing desk also relieves me of a slow, lazy start to my workday. Before I started using the standing desk, I sat down at my computer in the morning, convinced myself that I was “working,” and took the time to immerse myself in the real essence of my day. I was like a machine slowly starting to heat up. The gears spun, the belts spun, and after about an hour, the machine was finally running at full power. Some people might have liked such a slow, luxurious start to the day, but for me it was a waste of time and energy.
Standing made me start working right outside the gate. That morning, “well, I probably should do something,” the sleepiness fades away faster and I can’t feel too comfortable, because if I do, I’ll fall. This discovery was a game changer for me. Now I turn on my computer and dive right into it because my body is telling me to work and not read Kotaku. I still take regular breaks throughout the day to rest my mind and body, but now I have more control over when this happens. In the mornings, I start out productively, and breaks only come when I really need them.
To stand means no more coma after lunch.
Food comas are great (I indulge in this feeling of laziness and satiety as often as I can), but not when I’m trying to be productive. Sleep fog caused by overeating or overeating at lunch can be a waste of your day. Standing tables fight this, and for me, they help me get back to my normal state faster after eating.
Every day I do as much work in the morning as I can and then eat a meal that is a combination of a late breakfast and an early lunch (I refuse to say I eat brunch every day). I used to sit at my desk eating and maybe watching Netflix to take a break, but a few bites later I was full, sleepy and unable to get back on track. As soon as I start to stand, I actually leave the table to eat and rest at my dining table. When it came time to get back to work, he put me back into “working mode” while standing. I remain alert and the food I ate feels more like fuel rather than weight that tires me out.
Standing tables help me stay active, and that’s the main thing.
Obviously, standing all day is slightly more active than sitting all day, but standing also makes us want to be more active. Whether you are standing or sitting, movement and activity are what keeps you healthy . With my standing desk, I’m more inclined to walk around the apartment while I think, hop on a stationary bike for a quick workout, hold dumbbells next to the table to lift it, walk outside when I need a break (what is that bright yellow thing that burns my skin?), and even dance like an idiot to my music. My Fitbit tells me that since I started using the standing table, my daily steps have skyrocketed. Basically, step count is not the same as good health, but I can feel the difference too. It’s amazing how big the mental barrier is when you get to your feet . Instead of “I have to get up and go and do it,” it’s “okay, I got up already, so why not?”
What’s more, all the extra activity helps me concentrate and think creatively. Sure, exercise, rhythm and dancing all distract me from the work I have to do, but they are good ones: ones that give my mind the opportunity to recharge , reboot, and return to what I’m doing without pulling my head completely out of the zone. The effect is like a great idea that comes to your mind while jogging or in the shower . One minute I dance, the next I write like crazy, because I finally figured out how I want to write something.
Even a sitting position becomes productive.
Make no mistake, seating is still very important when you have a standing desk. Give your legs (especially your knees) a break from time to time. But that’s the beauty of a standing table; this gives a sedentary goal. Sitting turns from the norm into what it should be: a break.
Rest is just as important to productivity as work, and now sitting plays that role for me. Sitting has become a tool. In the past, my bouts of escape from reality filled me with guilt as I went from sitting at the table all day to sitting on the couch all night. Now when I sit down to watch a movie or play a video game, I feel like I’m enjoying a well-deserved rest. On top of that, working at a stationary desk creates two levels of fatigue, and I find myself more prone to falling down at a decent hour. The more good sleep I have, the more energy I have on my workday, which means better productivity.
However, these two levels of fatigue can be a double-edged sword. Standing desks tire me both physically and mentally, so I can’t wake up for a long time after a working day. Going to the gym, standing at a bar with friends, and walking around town becomes less appealing when you’re on your feet all day. Ask any salesperson, restaurant waiter, or anyone else who’s standing around all day. However, if you can find a good balance between sitting and standing, you will have more advantages than disadvantages.