Working at home or in an office setting is a fantastic thing, but it does come with some unforeseen drawbacks. One of the major issues is the amount of time that I spend sitting behind a computer during the day. I’m a big fan of PC gaming, so when I’m done with work, I’ll typically spend some time playing games with friends or diving into the latest indie games that are hitting Steam or other platforms.
As expected, sitting all the time is not the best thing for you by any means. Lower back pain from slouching in a chair, or bad posture from not having a chair that is able to conform to you. Getting up at the end of the day was always one of the best feelings in the world, but now? I can do that whenever I want, even if I’m working.
No more back pain from chairs
Getting up to stretch and type is surprisingly nice
The first time I ever had the chance to use a standing desk was when I worked in a call center for a now-defunct magazine mail-order catalog. I would spend up to 10 hours a day, sitting behind a computer monitor, listening to incoming calls and helping people place orders. As exciting as that all sounds, it was agony. Not because of the job itself, but because we were all in the cheapest chairs imaginable, and by the end of the shift, my back was screaming like Mel Blanc in a classic Looney Tunes cartoon.
When I was offered the chance to use a standing desk, I was curious enough to try it out. It ended up spoiling me, because there were only a total of 4 standing desks that needed to be shared between many different workers. I only got to use it a few times, but I knew from that point forward that if I ever had a work-from-home position, a standing desk would be a necessity.
Most modern standing desks are the same size as a standard desk
The one thing I remember about that particular standing desk is that it wasn’t able to change between a standard seated position and a standing position. It was locked in one spot, and you could only stand at it. Most modern standing desks have motors and electronics that allow users to swap between standing and seated positions with just the press of a button, so you don’t need to clear extra space out of your home office if you decide to jump into one.
Plus, if you’re looking for a way to get your daily exercise in while you’re working? You could always invest in a walking pad so you can take a brisk little walk while you’re in meetings or doing some more menial tasks. Even the chance to get up and stretch your legs without the fear of missing out on something at work while standing on a squishy anti-fatigue mat is a major reason to upgrade to a standing desk, especially if you’ve found yourself working longer hours.
It’s still good for sitting, too
Sitting, standing, or swapping, it’s all good for you
Some people, like my Mom and Dad, prefer to use their computer with a standard chair instead of a computer chair. Why? I wish I understood, but a standing desk could prove to be beneficial for them in several ways, too. Even if they don’t use the “standing” portion of it often, they can still fine-tune exactly where the desk is height-wise, which would be great for them. My Dad is over 6-feet tall, and my Mom is on the shorter end of the 5-foot spectrum.
Even if you do have a regular computer chair, dialing in the height for both your chair and your desk can be surprisingly beneficial. Typing no longer feels like a chore, and is something you don’t mind doing for hours on end. Even things like using a mouse or a drawing tablet to sketch down your ideas feel more natural when your desk is at an appropriate height. It’s something you don’t realize you’re missing until the first time. Everything just sits right for you. I would recommend a monitor arm for a standing desk, even if you’re doing a dual-monitor setup, as you can adjust everything to match when you’re standing or sitting.
Standing desks can be pricey
Would it be worth the investment?
Now, here comes the bad part. Standing desks aren’t cheap by any means. They do have some good valued options on places like Amazon, but you’ll want to keep an eye on reviews for specific things, such as if they start to wobble at standing height, or how high they can even go in the first place. The last thing you want to do is spend a ton of money to find out that it isn’t going to be a fit for you, because as soon as you start typing, the whole desk starts shaking like you’re in an earthquake. You’ll also want to check weight limits, as some bulker PC cases or larger monitor setups could cause a standing desk to become more of a liability than expected, as underpowered options may not have the guts to lift things up as high as needed.
There’s also the fact that you’ll need to consider cable management, as a tall standing desk can cause your PC power cable or other A/C connections plugged into your wall to no longer reach properly. But if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to make this work with everything that you already have, you’ll likely discover that a standing desk is well worth the investment that you made. Especially seeing as premium office chairs can cost just as much, if not more than, most typical standing desks do. Lower-priced models do sometimes come with manual/crank options, so that could be something to consider if you’re hoping to start the switch to a standing desk in the future.
- Weight Capacity
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176 LBS
- Base material & desktop
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Wood top, alloy steel base, powder coated finish
- Electric?
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Yes (A/C)
- Height Adjustment
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28.9″ – 46.5″
I no longer feel like a shrimp at the end of the day
Unless you’re constantly paying attention to your posture, you never realize how often you’re shifting your seating position throughout the day. If you end up trying a standing desk, challenge yourself to switch to a standing position every hour, so you can get up and stretch those legs while also keeping busy. It may be a little bit of an adjustment to your daily routine, but when you’re ready to finally sign out for the day, and you’re feeling more energized than you normally are, that’s when it’ll finally all make sense.
