There has been a lot of conversation that starts with 'sitting is the new smoking'. In other words, sitting will kill you; ergo we all need to get up and get moving.
As someone who ran through airports and tossed carry-on luggage into overhead bins for a decade, I used to get a lot of exercise, but this last 10 years has found me sitting at this laptop, typing away.
In fact, it is not uncommon for me to sit down at 5:30 am and not get up again until 1 or 2pm (or later, egad!). Bad for my body (especially my kidneys!)
And pay for all that sitting, I have. My hips felt like they were made from shards of glass. My shoulders were blocks of concrete and my core strength was nearly non-existent.
So, realizing it was time to do something, I invested in a stand up desk. Yep! It's called the Vari-Desk and it has (obviously) variable heights. The one I'm using has enough room for my laptop and the mouse and it is designed with arm rests. Comfy!
I went from sitting constantly to standing constantly which is an amazing thing! First of all, I find myself shifting around a lot. I have a pinched nerve in one of my feet so standing stationary on it can get painful, so that causes me to move; but I also shift around a lot because standing simply invites you to move (calorie burn anyone?).
To date, not only am I moving more, but my shoulders have eased up, my hips are so much better, I feel more relaxed and I actually work more efficiently which means I can limit the time I'm on this foot. And I can adjust the height to 'vary' how my arms and shoulders work while I'm typing which doesn't hold them in a single spot - a leading cause of muscle fatigue and cramping.
The other thing I noticed is that I don't stay at the computer as much as before. In the past, I would sit here whether I was working or not and read online or play a game or (my favorite) hunt Pinterest topics but because I now stand for work, I take my iPad and sit somewhere else - or go outside or read an actual book or take a walk.
Now that may not sound like such a big deal but emotionally it is amazing. When you sit at your work computer (working or not) your brain and body tend to 'think' you're working and can add to your feelings of exhaustion. Conversely, getting away from the laptop (even when I'm on the tablet) saves my mental wear-n-tear and that's a benefit I didn't expect!
To learn more about the Vari-Desk and its multitude of configurations, visit www.varidesk.com
Consider one... Your body will thank you for it! And be sure to get an anti-fatigue floor mat. I wouldn't want to stand without one. Get a Vari-Desk and get moving!
