Ikea Standing Desk (opens in new tab)

Beside my desk I have two cardboard boxes and a loose 1/2 width desk table table-top. Maybe 4 times a week I move everything on the edge of my desk and set up the two boxes and the loose desktop to make a standing desk that just happens to be the perfect height.

I've only got a laptop, a single monitor, lamp, wired keyboard, and wireless mouse, so moving all that from the low desk to top desk - and back - only takes about one or two minutes. When I do stand, I'll stay like that for usually about three to four hours.

I set up a permanent standing desk at home for about a month (cinder blocks under my desk table legs) and I really liked how easy it was to just walk up to desk and dive into work... or to step back from my desk if I got distracted or just needed to take a couple minutes because I was stuck on something. Not having to "get settled" at my desk, and not having to pull my up out of my chair made a surprisingly big difference to the experience of working.

While the physical benefits of not siting so much are very good, I was most surprised by that feeling described in the paragraph above. The way it changed my relationship to my desk and what happens there was the most remarkable thing about using a standing desk. I very much look forward to getting an electric adjustable standing desk at work.

When I started using a standing desk it definitely involved an adjustment period. When starting out, something that helped me was to stand for thirty minutes then sit for one hour, alternating. Also, I've found that it's best to start the day standing or else I end up sitting most of the day. :) My back and neck (and even my hands) feel a lot better when I alternate between standing and sitting, as opposed to sitting all day. From what I understand, standing all day is also bad, but moving up to one hour of standing per sitting has worked pretty good for me.

The key I think is have a desk that can change (not fixed). I have the GeekDesk (http://www.geekdesk.com) and wouldn't go back to a normal fixed desk. Yes, I don't stand for long periods of time either. But I really enjoy the fact that I can change my desk height throughout the day. For example, I have a large whiteboard right beside my desk at standing height. So I flip the desk to standing position when I want to brainstorm and have access to my computer.

My desk at work gives me the option to stand or sit.

Most of the time, it winds up being 60/40 stand/sit.

Feels pretty nice!

Yes, that is the point of a motorized sit stand desk. You stand when you feel like it and adjust it down when you want to sit, and so on.

The research is pretty clear. Any amount of time sent standing is better than that amount of time sitting. Your muscles stay in use, your heart works more efficiently, and you burn more calories, than sitting. So no, sitting + walking breaks is not healthier than always standing.

Cost shouldn't be a factor if you really care about treating your body better. It's super easy to ad-hoc your own standing desk for free, or spend some money to get something built for standing. Remember, if you're doing it for 8+hours a day, that's 1/4 of your life. It's worth the money you spend.

I like to stand while working, not alternate between standing and working. Pacing helps me think, and not having to sit down to use the computer each time I want to try something while working my way through a different problem is wonderful. Finally sitting down after finishing something that's taken long enough for my legs to get tired is pretty satisfying too. With a motorized desk I find I usually spend a bit under half the day standing.

For me, any long term health benefits from a standing desk is purely a nice bonus.

On the other hand, that's not a lot of money for a standing desk.