I've recently started on a journey that involves not going anywhere, and doing really nothing special. This journey is one which I've undertaken in an attempt to improve my own life, which I do feel it has done although it may be too early to tell. However, I seem to get a lot of laughs when I tell people about it. In some cases I've even been told that I'm crazy for it, or that what I'm doing is downright unhealthy. What is it you ask that too me seems like a revelation, but for others is at best just another one of Binary's weird idiosyncracies, at worst self-destructive and pathological?
I've begun standing at work. "What's the big deal?" you may be asking yourself, and I agree. Many, many people work on their feet. Construction workers. Cashiers. Cowboys. Computer programmers typically don't though, which may be why this is coming as such a surprise to so many. For years now I've spent the majority of every day sitting down, or lying down (when I'm sleeping, etc) and I can feel the toll that it's taken on my hips. I have hip pain almost constantly, and so in my opinion the only thing to do was to start standing.
Now I try to stand anywhere from 4 - 6 hours out of my work day and I really feel like my pain is starting to decrease. Again, it may be too early to tell, but it sure seems that way. I've got my keyboard, mouse and the laptop itself propped up on various items so that I don't have to reach or bend over.
Anyway, I plan on continuing this for a while and seeing how it works out. I thought when I started this that it would be a much harder thing to do than it has really turned out to be, so any other sit down people out there that want to stand up and give it a try, go for it. And let me know how it works out for ya'
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2 comments:
Right on, br0llercoaster. I've been an advocate of standing for quite some time, particularly in social situations. You'd be surprised how many people find it uncomfortable to talk to someone while they're standing. It looks like there's been some work on this very issue already.
People in your particular profession should probably think about revisiting the Nintendo Power Pad.
Two comments:
1. I used a stand up desk at two different jobs, and loved it. Standing keeps the blood flowing, and seems to create energy, not use it up.
2. I've now added a wireless headset, so I can pace around while I'm on the phone. I get called Major Tom a lot, but it's otherwise a positive experience.
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