It seems I can’t go a week without hearing someone say that “sitting is the new smoking.” And I have one of those rather terrible city commutes – often over an hour each way – that is a lot of time sitting. So, I have been intrigued watching the furniture revolution happening in offices and in schools. I took the plunge last August and got a Varidesk. It is an adjustable desk that will rise so you can stand and work and lower so you can sit and work.
And . . .. I wouldn’t go back.
What I have learned:
- I never lower the desk. I did a little bit when I first got the desk but it was done more as a novelty. I leave it so I can stand and work. If I want to sit, I unplug my laptop and sit in a chair. I don’t stand all-day but I am definitely standing for the majority of time I am in my office.
- The standing desk has increased my productivity. I find I am far more focused and engaged when I am standing at my desk. I have always been someone who likes to move when I work, so I will work intently for several minutes and then stretch / walk and then get back to work.
- I have less back pain. In the post-40 year-old world of mine, like many I have developed a series of regular aches and pains. Standing has lessened my back pain and overall I have far less pain than from sitting for long periods of time. It did take a little getting used to the first couple weeks, standing all day, but it is now just my routine. Having a gel mat to stand on also really helped.
- I get more “steps”. This may mean very little to many of you but I am very conscious about my daily step count that is linked to my FitBit. Just by working standing-up I will get a couple hundred steps an hour – rather than the zero I get sitting.
- I still have to do a better job of being conscious about my posture. Especially in the afternoon I will lean on the desk when I work, and probably just replacing the problems of sitting with a different set of problems.
I find the efforts around learning spaces in our schools to be fascinating. I love the variety of options we are giving students from bouncy chairs, to standing desks to quiet spots in the corner. I have visited a number of classrooms at both elementary and secondary that are creating a variety of desk options and also looking seriously at how they use space for learning. It is not just our schools that are looking at standing desks. Here is a recent story on the use of standing desks at New Westminster Secondary School and a CTV story on their use across North America.
The changes in our classroom are clearly much more than just technology.
And admittedly as a sample size of one, I am finding the standing desk has really changed how I work – helping my health and making me more productive.
cultureofyes.ca 
Love seeing the use of this, and would like to see it more. I use to have a podium of sorts when I started teaching (20 years ago) and while not a ‘standing desk’ specifically, I rather enjoyed working from it. Thanks for the reminder. Interesting article regarding this from a few years ago, if you’re interested: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/07/05/become-a-stand-up-guy-the-history-benefits-and-use-of-standing-desks/
Thanks for sharing the article Paul – a good one! I guess it is proof again that anything “new” is usually not that new. It is reassuring to see the benefits I am seeing are ones that seem to be widespread.
I can attest to the value of the standup desk, Chris. I’ve used one for about 15 years, and I find that it increases my energy and productivity. And I also have fewer lower-back problems because of it.
Nice Dennis. It make so much sense, it is interesting that we are coming to this now for kids and haven’t done a lot of it earlier. It is nice to see the conversation around personalizaiton is also looking at furniture – I am seeing kids with very different needs in classrooms.
Great post, here’s a chair I’ve been jonesing for my classroom for a few years. It’s not a standing desk, but the possibilities for rapidly adapting classroom dynamic would be huge:
http://www.steelcase.com/products/collaborative-chairs/node/
Spencer Capier
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Hi Spencer – that is is a good looking chair. I was at Caulfeild this morning and saw a variety of tables and chairs being experimented with in classrooms. Probably the key is the range of different options for kids (and adults). I also have seen similar work at Irwin Park and West Bay. There is probably also secondary classrooms in our district that have been trying different furniture I am just not aware of them.
Some of the collaborative tables I saw at Caulfeild included ones that were a white board top for working on together.
Of course there are a range of entry points when it comes to money and furniture – I have heard stories from under $100 to several thousand dollars.
Yes these chairs are a pretty penny, but it’s cool to see what a tweak of a chair or desk can do to the learning environment.
I had chairs like this in my previous school and the vast majority of students loved them. Once they understand that you really mean “no, you cannot have hallway races” with them, they are great! It allows for varied groupings and for those who have trouble sitting usually moved just enough to satisfy the need for motion without being disruptive.
I am finding in my first year as an administrator that I have so much “paper” work to do that I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder that causes numbness in my arm. Typing is so painful. Maybe a standing desk is just what I need.
Cheers,
Cindy
I have set up one at home – I just turned a tote box upside down and put it on my desk. There are some really simple ways to experiment with it and see if it works. I am sure standing is not for everyone, but it is probably worth a try.
I love my standing “desk” further transformed my office (got rid of traditional desk for table a few years ago) but love my $35 telescoping desk though I sometimes do need to sit – on my exercise ball! But I really do prefer standing although I still find it awkward at PVP meetings and conferences when I am repeatedly offered a chair and politely decline – but the peer pressure is noticeable! For now…..
Reblogged this on technolandy: site of Ian Landy.
I love this post Chris and will be sharing throughout my network – I also have “sitting is the new smoking” in my email signature, so guilty as charged. Congrats on the extra steps!