# Tell me about your stand-up desk. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728 "2013-08-08T17:43:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/1 "2013-08-08T17:43:05Z")
I know you have one, you cutting-edge bastard. My interest: I’m tall. Regular desks and/or chairs require modification. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/2 "2013-08-08T17:53:23Z")
OMG, I had a tall desk once and loved it! Built it myself from plywood and shelving- more of a workbench than a desk, but still. It was the right height for standing work, and I had a barstool the right height for sitting at it too. Man, my back is tingling with the need to make another one… ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/3 "2013-08-08T18:06:19Z")
We have sit/stand stations at work, and we’re \*supposed \*to use them for a third of our day. I don’t, but I do like having the option of standing and use it if my lower back is bugging me or if I have been sitting at my dest for more then a couple of hours (usually I move around/go to other people’s offices). It helps quite a bit. The only recommendation I have is to make sure you aren’t standing on a really hard surface. That can bother the back as well. Also, I take my shoes off when I’m standing. ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/4 "2013-08-08T18:09:08Z")
We have several people at work who built their own–usually for half their work station. They absolutely love having the option to move their lap top up high and stand while doing e-mail, etc. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/5 "2013-08-08T19:42:36Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > Also, I take my shoes off when I’m standing. This made me smile. You only wear shoes when you don’t actually need them to protect your feet from the ground. Out of context, that would be really silly. As for our 6’8" OP, are you interested in actually standing at one? Because I’m only 6’2" and I notice that most of them are just a slight bit too short. Then again, I’ve never had my own, just used someone else’s. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/6 "2013-08-08T20:33:18Z")
I’m absolutely interested in standing at one…as long as it is the right size. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/7 "2013-08-09T16:25:33Z")
I call mine a “cash register.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/8 "2013-08-09T17:03:41Z")
We have these [Steelcase Airtouch](http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/tables/adjustable/airtouch/pages/overview.aspx) desks at work. They go up and down. I like them. They’re a lot more practical than the electrically-adjustable models I’ve seen, though it would be nice if they had a little more range. (I’m 5’10" and the highest setting seems like a tad too low - I want about another half inch out of the thing. (That’s what she said.)) I spend most of my day sitting but maybe half an hour to an hour standing at it. One useful feature is that raising the desk makes it much easier to plug and unplug my laptop without banging my head. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/9 "2013-08-10T04:04:44Z")
I have an adjustable desk at work. Since the day I got it, I’ve never had it in the sitting position. I stand all day except when sitting in meetings. ---
**Author:** ![snuffleupagus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@snuffleupagus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snuffleupagus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/10 "2013-08-12T00:52:58Z")
I have an adjustable sitting-standing workstation like this: [http://www.amazon.com/Ergotron-WorkFit-S-33-341-200-Sit-Stand-Workstation/dp/B003Y3PF6E?tag=s601000020-20](http://www.amazon.com/Ergotron-WorkFit-S-33-341-200-Sit-Stand-Workstation/dp/B003Y3PF6E?tag=s601000020-20). I love it, I usually stand 15 minutes out of every hour, or anytime my butt starts feeling numb. 😃 I get varied reactions from co-workers, from people who don’t understand how I would get tired of sitting (😕), to people who like it so much they want to order their own. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/11 "2013-08-12T01:13:58Z")
We have the adjustable stations too, which are cool. What is NOT cool, is the software they installed on our computers. If you’re on your computer for more than thirty minutes, a little pop up video comes on and tells you it’s time to do your hand stretches. (You then follow along with the girl in the video doing the stretches.) annoying!! ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/12 "2013-08-12T01:37:07Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > [Steelcase Airtouch](http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/tables/adjustable/airtouch/pages/overview.aspx) though it would be nice if they had a little more range. (I’m 5’10" and the highest setting seems like a tad too low - I want about another half inch out of the thing. (That’s what she said.)) As long as the lowest setting is not too high, try putting some small pieces of plywood under each foot. My work space is a standing worktable. It’s 10ft. by 12ft. at 38in. and covered in carpet. If I want to sit I hop up on the table. But that a great way to get glass splinters in my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/13 "2013-08-12T02:19:43Z")
I don’t have a stand-up desk, but I have a bookcase that’s just the right height. I keep it clear on top so that I can use it as a stand-up desk when sitting at my regular desk has me feeling achy, or when I just want to get my circulation going a little better. Beware: Working at a stand-up desk might lead to serious errors in judgment. See the next-to-last paragraph here: [USATODAY.com - Rumsfeld OK'd harsh treatment](http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-06-22-rumsfeld-abuse-usat_x.htm) ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/14 "2013-08-12T03:08:31Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > We have the adjustable stations too, which are cool. > > What is NOT cool, is the software they installed on our computers. If you’re on your computer for more than thirty minutes, a little pop up video comes on and tells you it’s time to do your hand stretches. (You then follow along with the girl in the video doing the stretches.) annoying!! We have the same thing: Workpace. Ours is a ten second break every five minutes and a five minute stretch break every hour or so, based on how much you’re typing or mousing. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/15 "2013-08-12T04:05:08Z")
in case anyone is wondering why you would stand up instead of sitting [Dr. Ann explains](http://drannwellness.com/video.cfm?VideoID=155) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/16 "2013-08-13T12:44:32Z")
Well, I’m going to figure out a way to rig up something. There’s no way I can get one purchased for me, so it will be a combination of blocks under the feet of my desk and perhaps a tabletop podium. I assume that the proper height for the monitor would looking straight ahead or perhaps slightly upward, to encourage good posture? ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/17 "2013-08-13T13:40:13Z")
I have the sit/stand desk as well. Cool thing about it is the option to save up to three height settings in memory. I also have two 30" monitors that adjust separately. According to the experts at this sort of thing, the correct viewing angle is slightly looking down. We have the Workpace software as well to enforce breaks although it can be annoying when halts work in the middle of something. Desk needs a cup holder though.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-your-stand-up-desk/665728/18 "2013-08-13T16:02:22Z")
Churchill used a standing desk sometimes, too: [http://nextdesks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/churchill.jpg](http://nextdesks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/churchill.jpg)