Standing Desk Blog

Standing Desk Interview with Encinitas Legend Chris Cote

A few months ago we decided to reach out to Encinitas Legend Chris Cote on Instagram to see if he was interested in a standing desk. For those of you who do not know him, Chris Cote is a household name in the surf world. He has been a part of a ton of the content produced for the surf industry over the last few decades. Aside from shredding at surfing and skating, he was the infamous editor at Transworld Surf Magazine, commentates professional surf/skate events around the world, is a DJ, is in a band (Kut U Up), and has done a variety of other performances to leave a lasting footprint on the surf/skate world and local community. We messaged him about our desks because we figured he must spend a lot of time sitting at his desk, producing content nonstop. We were excited just to get a response from him, but we were even more stoked when we he said that he had already been planning on getting one. He invited us to his rad Airstream office right off Highway101, the home of his new Standee Boost. Chris has now been standing for four months! Last week we were able to catch up with Chris to learn about his experience with his standing desk.   

You now have been standing for four months with the Standee Boost Height Adjustable Desktop Standing Desk. How have you been liking it? How long did it take you to adjust? 

I had been wanting a standing desk for a long time so I was definitely ready when I got my Standee Desk! On the advice of a few friends who already have desks, I stood most of the day, but took breaks to sit every few hours, probably went about 70-percent standing, 30-percent sitting. I liked the feeling of standing and working immediately and now I'm at about 80/20 throughout the day. 

Why did you make the switch to a standing desk? How did you hear about them? 

My chiropractor, Dr. Ryan Gessay (Tune Chiropractic) basically told me that standing desks are the way to go, and I trust him. Also I felt like my posture was getting worse and my back hurt more often. I have pretty bad eyesight so I constantly found myself leaning way in to the computer, making my slouch even worse than before.

Do you stand more at certain times of the day or is it random? What does your standing/sitting schedule typically look like?

I stand for a long period right when I get to work, sit for lunch, then stand in to the afternoon. The afternoons used to be my "lazy" time. I would always get tired, but when I stand, I feel like I have more energy, and that energy sustains me til the end of the day! I also record my podcast, "The Monday M.A.S.S." super early on Monday mornings, and my Standee set up works great to keep my energy high when recording the world's greatest action sports podcast! 

What stuff are you working on at your standing desk? Is it good for specific tasks?

Podcasts, brainstorming, writing, watching funny videos on the Internet, meeting with people (I make them stand up too), drinking coffee, drinking more coffee. 

Has standing affected your life in any ways/areas that you weren’t expecting?

The most surprising byproduct of standing at work is my posture throughout the rest of my day/night is vastly improved. Sounds weird, but the better my posture is, the more confident I am. I feel like when you walk into a room standing tall, straight spine, head up, you're already killing it, confidence is king, and good posture is a huge part of that. I feel like standing at work is also helping me achieve my summer beach bod goals, I'm cool with dad-bod, but my dad-bod will be among the hottest dad bods on the beach this summer. 

Any advice for those considering switching to a standing desk?

DO it! I tell everybody that will listen that standing up is the best way to work. I also recommend Standee Co. because the designs fit my personal tastes and aesthetic. Good, clean, and high quality materials, fail safe functionality, and I always try to support local homies, and these homies are local! O-side or No-side.  

Do you have any tips for people who have recently made the switch?

Congratulations, you are now even more awesome, than you were before.

Yew!! Thanks Chris!

Standing Desks: Things to Know and Helpful Tips

From years of customer feedback and first-hand experience we realized that many people are misguided in their switch to a standing desk. People will stand all day long for the first week and then give up because of the strain on their body. Or people are unhappy because they did not lose the weight that they thought they were going to lose via postural rotation. So, we put together a list of things to know and helpful tips that we include on a pamphlet with all of our desks. However there are many standing desk users or potential users that do not use our desks so I thought I would share our list of things to know and helpful tips for those of you who have not seen it:

Things to Know

• Standing desks do not require you to stand all day.
• This is a desk not a diet! We do not guarantee miracle weight loss. However, our desk will serve as a gateway to a more active, healthy lifestyle.

• This is not a wholesale lifestyle change. Our goal is to help you incorporate more movement into your day. Any amount of time spent standing is beneficial – no matter how little!
• Everyone’s standing experience is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Listen to your body, know your needs.

Helpful Tips

1. Use an anti-fatigue mat. The Standee Mat helps to relieve pressure on your knees, back, and feet.
2. Shoe choice is key. Kick off those heels!
3. It’s all about postural rotation – alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.
4. Use correct posture while standing and sitting. No slouching!
5. Your workspace should be ergonomically sound: monitors at eye level and arms’ length away from face, elbows at 90 degrees.
6. Play music. Set reminders to stand. Find excuses to take a walk.
7. Leave your desk in the standing position when you leave for lunch or at the end of the day, you will be much more likely to stand when you return to your desk! 

“It’s not the furniture that makes the difference, it’s the behavior. The desk without the behavior doesn’t help you.” – James Levine, MD, PhD of the Mayo Clinic

Goodluck!

Standing Desks Plus 4 Tips to Stay Healthy During the Holidays

The holiday season is in full swing again--which means it’s time for the blogosphere to come out in full force with an obligatory barrage of advice on how to keep those Santa pounds off this month! Standee Co. is jumping into the fray with our own list of helpful hints to keep you feeling slim and healthy during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Standing while working can have great impact on heart health, posture, and even help you shed some pounds-- and we’ve got a perfect last minute gift for that special someone in your life who needs a pick me up at work: a standing desk! But aside from standing desks here are 4 other helpful tips to stay healthy this holiday season.

1. Avoid the Sales guy’s box of See’s

Conventional wisdom pegs Halloween as the candy holiday, but in a close second place comes the month of December. It seems that practically everywhere you look during this month you can find a metallic foil-wrapped treat. Whether it’s mini peanut butter cups, kisses, chocolate mints or golden wrapped coins-- the opportunities to spoil your appetite and overdose on sugar are endless. There’s nothing wrong with a self-love and indulgence during this season, but the key is to not overdue it. Try to find moderate limits on your own consumption. Best place to start? With the holiday office candy from Steve, the random sales guy who drops in once every year in December with a box of chocolates to remind you that he’s still alive and waiting patiently for a call. Steve’s box of chocolates are less about you and more about him anyways. He doesn’t care in the slightest what you do with that box, he just hopes you think of him when you’re downing your fourth chocolate of the morning. So do Steve a favor and avoid those chocolates, just like you avoided him all year.

2. Opt to Shop in Person-- Not Online

I know what you’re thinking: what terrible advice! “Why would I choose to brave the wintry weather and unrelenting crowds, the timesuck traffic and self-absorbed shoppers to complete my gift shopping? I have an Amazon account, and a credit card, and a cozy spot right next to the fireplace--I have everything I need!” Sure, that’s one way to look at it. But there are hidden benefits in braving the brick and mortar shops in place of the online market. Did you know that if you shop for three hours walking at an average pace of 3.5 miles per hour you can burn up to 750 calories? Take the stairs instead of the elevator and park further from the door and you can be a calorie burning machine. Shopping out is a perfect excuse to work off all those chocolates Steve left for you if you had trouble avoiding them.

3. Use Smaller Plates at Dinner

The Holiday Season is a time for decadence and elegance. It’s a time to bust out the fancy china collecting dust all year and dish up some family favorites that pack a caloric punch. The best way to keep active while indulging yourself at the dinner table is to opt for a smaller plate. Instead of using the big dinner plate in the china set, grab the smaller salad plate. At the very least this will require you to get up and move between helpings. Moving while eating will help you determine just how full you are and if you really need that second-- or third!-- serving. And maybe, just maybe, the smaller plate will help you control your portions below button bursting levels.

4. Start Working Out Now

In a few short weeks, the throngs of overstuffed, ephemeral denizens of the fitness center will be back to make good on a half-hearted commitment to shedding their holiday regret. Don’t be one of them! Take advantage of the thin attendance at the gym, now. Be proactive about maintaining a routine now during the holiday hustle so you will have a leg up on all the sorry treadmill trotters come January 1st. And if you can’t find time to make it to the gym, find an at home workout program that doesn’t require weights, machines, or a whole lot of time for you to break a sweat and stay active. For the last three weeks, we’ve been competing against each other in the Freeletics Strength and Cardio Program, every day at lunch. While we definitely still have our pooches, our energy levels have shot up and our strength and agility have greatly improved in just a short amount of time.

Varidesk Pro Plus 36 vs. Standee Boost

Varidesk is one of the most well-known standing desk companies. Their mass marketing and huge advertising budget has enabled them to get their product in front of millions of eyes. Their most popular model, Varidesk Pro Plus 36, is an add-on height adjustable desk that is 36” wide. We recently came out with the Standee Boost, a comparable model to the Varidesk, however here are 3 reasons why our desk is better:

1. Larger work surface

The Varidesk does not have much of a true work surface at all. If you view the Varidesk from an aerial angle, then you see that it consists of two parts: a monitor riser and a large keyboard tray. If you were going to open up and read through a sales binder where would you put it? How about if you wanted to take notes, where would you do so?

Instead of solely having a monitor riser in addition to a keyboard tray, the Standee Boost has a 35” x 23.5” desktop that doubles as a work surface and a monitor riser. It actually provides a place for you to put your laptop, note pad, papers, etc. giving you all the space you need to be productive at your workstation.

2. Vertical adjustment

To adjust the height on the Varidesk, you must lean forward and then pull back in order to get the desk up. It moves horizontally and vertically simultaneously. This poses a much greater risk of injury due to the strain on your back from the pull back motion. Along with the injury risk, the top height of the Varidesk Pro Plus 36 is only 17 1/2". 

The Boost has no diagonal movement. Its height adjusts only vertically on a gas-spring scissor lift. Therefore the only motion is the individual guiding the desk up with his or her arms instead of leaning over and pulling the desk up, using their back along with their arms. Also, the max height of the Standee Boost is 20". 

3. More affordable

The Varidesk Pro Plus 36 retails at $395. The Standee Boost retails at $349.95 for Black MDF and $389.95 for Amber or Natural Bamboo. Boom. Boosting the number of green bills in your wallet as well as your productivity is our MO. Why pay more for a desk that does not leave you any work space and could lead to injury?! Check out the Standee Boost today!

Standing Desk User Interview - Standee Boost

In November, we launched the Standee Boost. Our height adjustable desktop standing desk allows for a smooth transition between sitting and standing throughout the workday and can be seamlessly integrated into an existing workspace. Nicholai Hansen of Long Beach was one of the first customers to preorder the Boost. We interviewed him a month later to get his feedback on his new height-adjustable desk and his transition to standing while working.

Where do you work?

I work at Manson Construction Co. We are a general contractor that specializes in marine construction. We build bridges, wharves, and docks. I work as a field engineer. However, most of my time is spent working in the office. I provide technical assistance for our project managers, and coordinate suppliers, subcontractors and crews for whichever contract I am currently working on. So my job title is a bit of an oxymoron; I spend the majority of my time working behind a desk not out in the field.

I’ve been with Manson Construction for several months now, but my previous job was more veritable; I spent very little time at a desk. So moving into an office setting has been an adjustment.

What motivated you to make the switch to a height-adjustable desk?

I moved to a standing desk because my back was beginning to ache from slouching in a chair all day in the office. My back actually doesn’t ache anymore. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m not slouching, or because I’m able to stand up, but regardless it is helping.

I’m also aware of the data out there today that equates sitting all day with smoking. When I came back to work in an office setting I knew that I didn’t want to succumb to a completely sedentary work life. I spend the overwhelming majority of my days working at a desk now and so I want to make sure that my way of making a living isn’t also slowly destroying my livelihood.

Do others in your office also have height-adjustable desks?

Currently no one else uses standing desks in my office. But since I’ve switched, a few of my co-workers are looking to transition as well. It’s funny because the Standee Boost has actually made my workday more sociable. Since receiving the desk a month ago, I have met several people I didn’t even know yet just because they wanted to check out my new workstation.

What has been the hardest part about making the switch to a standing desk?

I haven’t found a downside to the desk yet. I would say that standing all day would be difficult for me. The Standee anti-fatigue mat is super helpful in keeping me standing at my desk, but I think I’m still not cut out to be an all-day stander. The great thing about the Boost is how easy it is to move from standing to sitting in one quick, fluid motion. The height-adjustable nature of the desk is really key for me.

Standing Desks Plus Four Other Ways to Stay Awake at Work

Before you head to the coffee shop on the corner and plunk down 4 bucks for an overpriced latte, try these five tricks to burn off that afternoon fog and kick yourself into high gear for the last couple hours of the workday.

1) SMELL YOUR BEANS
            You ever think that coffee has given you a burst of energy before you’ve even taken your first sip? You aren’t kidding yourself. The smell of coffee alone is enough to give people the jolt they need to get back into focus. Simply take a small bag of whole coffee beans or fresh grounds and take a whiff to perk up without even pouring a cup.

2) CHEW YOUR ICE

            Chomping on frozen water isn’t just for the sexually frustrated. If you find yourself dozing off at your desk a mouthful of ice can give you the jolt you need because your brain isn’t used to such chilling temperatures and is forced to work harder. In fact, chewing anything—even your pen cap—tricks your brain into thinking that you’re about to ingest something, causing your body to release insulin, which stimulates your function and awareness.

3) GET OUT AND MOVE

            Nothing stimulates your body and mind better than some good ole fashion exercise. Just as you feel those mid afternoon yawns creeping on step away from your desk, head outside and take a ten-minute walk. The sunshine and fresh air combined with increased blood flow to your entire body will help invigorate you to charge through the rest of your day. Research actually suggests that periodically taking short breaks will help increase your productivity, so don’t fret about reneging on your responsibilities. Stepping away from your desk, and stretching your legs will actually help you in producing quality, timely work.

4) TURN UP THE VOLUME

            Listening to music not only helps you relax, it can give you the added energy boost you desperately need when your eyelids begin to droop. When you listen to your favorite tunes you are more likely to be grooving along to it. Even the slightest movement keeps your body stimulated and your brain engaged.

5) TAKE A STAND

            Long hours sitting behind a desk and completing repetitive tasks can be monotonous and surprisingly tiring. If you can’t escape your desk for a mid afternoon stroll, mix up your routine by standing for an hour or two in the afternoon. Standing while working can boost your productivity and cognitive function; some studies have suggested that productivity increases upwards of 50 percent for people who use standing workstations. Consider investing in an electronic height-adjustable desk like the Standee Flex to fend off those afternoon blues.

Anti Fatigue Mat: How to Choose the Right One

In our last blog we discussed the importance of a good anti fatigue mat as a key to having a great standing experience. We discussed how an anti-fatigue mat can improve your standing compliance, enable you to stand comfortably for longer periods of time so that you can realize the benefits of standing, and how it can reduce stress on your musculoskeletal system, thereby extending the life of your joints, ligaments, back and soft tissue. Today, we’ll offer some pointers on what to look for in an anti fatigue mat and how to choose a mat that is right for you.

Choosing a high quality mat is really important to ensure that you will have a good standing experience. As with most other products, there is a wide range of quality and price points from which to choose. Our suggestions are based on our personal experience as committed standers for more than 5 years. We use standing desks and stand for 10-12 hours a day so we’ve logged a lot of standing hours and therefore have developed some strong opinions on what to look for in a standing mat. We have also purchased and tested many brands of mats so we believe we have a broad perspective of the choices that are available in the market.

A lot of mats are purchased online which makes it particularly difficult to ensure you are picking the right mat. Most mats look pretty similar online. Most are black and rectangular in shape. The descriptions often have a lot of common language so many people make a decision based on the picture, the price and customer reviews. Some of that information can be helpful, but remember that reviews can often come from people who received free product in exchange for a positive review.

So let’s look at some of the key factors to consider in selecting the right mat for you:

• Comfort- This is a really important criterion for mat selection. It’s a little bit like selecting the right running shoe or tennis racket. It’s generally a matter of personal preference. The comfort of a mat depends not only on the materials used in the mat and the structural design of the mat, but it also depends on how much you weigh, how much you stand during the day, how much you move around, etc. There is no substitute for trying a mat to make sure you like it. Be sure to try it with shoes on, with bare feet and just with socks. This will help you gauge the comfort from different perspectives. Also, it’s important to note that the comfort of a standing mat can change over time. Most mats get softer over time in the same way that your flip flops get more comfortable after you break them in.

• Thickness- Most anti fatigue mats on the market are ¾” thick. Generally, ¾” mats are adequate for most people and most standing applications. This thickness was originally determined to be optimal for kitchen mats, which was one of the primary original applications for anti-fatigue mats. Most people use kitchen mats for maybe 15-20 minutes per day so people are not standing on them for long periods of time. However, as the research has emerged regarding the dangers of sitting, more people have begun to use standing desks at work and are standing for much longer periods of time than the time it takes to do your dishes. When you are standing for the majority of the day, the thickness of the mat suddenly becomes a huge differentiator. Most ¾” mats started as kitchen mats and were then re-marketed as standing mats for office use. These manufacturers have generally not invested in the expensive molds required to make thicker mats. Although we are admittedly biased, we think the optimal thickness for office workers who are standing for long periods of time is 7/8”. In our view, the Standee Mat is the highest quality 7/8” thick mat on the market. A 7/8” mat is 15%-20% thicker than a ¾” mat, and over the course of a day, that extra 1/8” makes a huge difference in comfort and standing endurance. Unlike other mat companies who started in the kitchen mat market, Standee Co. was a pioneer in the anti-fatigue mat market for the office, and the company has made the significant investment required to create the mold for a 7/8” mat.

• Materials- Most mats are made of polyurethane foam or some other composite foam material. As a consumer, it is difficult to know if the polyurethane foam used in a mat is high quality, but like most products, there is a range of quality in these core materials. Some mats on the market use rubber as the core material instead of polyurethane foam, but most rubber-based mats lack the “give” required to offer a maximum comfort standing experience. Note that some mats have leather tops while others use rubber or similar materials. It’s not clear that one type of top material is better than another. It’s more a matter of personal preference and comfort.

• Beveled Edges- Beveled edges are an important safety feature to prevent tripping but not a huge differentiator since a lot of mats on the market have them. Make sure you choose one that has them.

• Anti-Slip Backing- It is more expensive to manufacture a mat with an anti-slip backing, but there are 2 important reasons to select a mat that has one: (1) It is safer to stand on a mat that doesn’t move around, and (2) It is more convenient if your mat stays in one place since it has to be adjusted less often. For larger mats, an anti-slip backing is less important since they tend to move around less because of the extra weight they carry.

• Size- It’s not true that bigger is always better. The size of mat that is right for you depends a lot on the available space in your work area, the configuration of that space, and how you will be using it. Most mats are 20”x30” or in that general size range. This size is adequate for most standing applications. If you have a sit-stand desk and are alternating between sitting and standing throughout the day, sometimes a standard-sized mat can be an advantage since it is easier to move out of the way. It’s impractical to think that you will be able to roll your chair over most mats unless they are thin, cheaply made mats. There are some longer mats on the market, like the Standee Mat-XL which measures 24” x 70”. If you have the space and the budget, these longer mats are ideal for encouraging movement throughout the day. With almost 6 feet of runway and over 3 times the surface area of most standard mats, you can actually pace back and forth or move side to side without having to step onto your carpet or floor.

• Does a Warranty Matter?- The conventional wisdom is that warranties matter and that the longer the warranty, the better the product. However, we’ve found this not to be the case. In fact, our observation is that most warranties are nothing more than marketing gimmicks. Some anti-fatigue mat companies offer lifetime warranties knowing their products will never last that long. They do this because they know that the majority of consumers forget about the warranty after they purchase the product or don’t bother following up. These companies also know that products become obsolete over time, and most consumers want the latest and greatest products rather than products that were invented many years ago. So we are not saying that warranties are bad or that you should not buy a mat with a warranty. But, you should recognize it as a marketing strategy that is used to try to get you to buy a mat.

• Price- As with any product, price is a directional indicator of quality but not a definitive indicator. Our general guidance is that mats that sell for less than $50 tend to be lower- end mats that are likely to be made of lower quality materials and are not likely to stand the test of time. There could be some decent mats under $50, particularly if they are kitchen mats, but these are generally not made for standing for long periods of time like you might be doing in an office environment. Mats that sell for between $50-$100 are more often likely to be of better quality and more durable, but again this is just one indicator and there will undoubtedly be exceptions. Mats that sell for over $100 tend to be on the expensive side and raise the question of whether or not you get the bang for your buck. The general rules of thumb that we are outlining here apply to standard sized mats. For longer mats like the 24”x70” or a mat that is 3’x5’, for example, you should expect to pay over $100 for a good quality mat.

Anti Fatigue Mat: The Key to a Great Standing Experience

This is a blog about the importance of an anti fatigue mat in ensuring a great standing experience. With all the media attention on the dangers of sitting and the benefits of standing, there should be no question in your mind about how standing can help you live a longer, healthier life while being more productive at work. Many people who have examined the data are so convinced that they take the plunge and buy a standing desk with great expectations and determination to change their ways by adopting a standing lifestyle at work.

In recent years Ergonomists have urged people to get sit-stand desks so they can alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day. Their rationale for this recommendation is that the most important thing is movement so changing back and forth between sitting and standing at least helps people to get moving. However, the real reason behind this recommendation probably has more to do with compliance than movement. That is, they know that the majority of people won’t be able to stand for the entire day, so they set the bar lower by recommending a mix of sitting and standing. It’s a little bit like the government coming out with dietary recommendations that are not designed for optimal health because they don’t believe the majority of Americans can adhere to the stricter guidelines that they should be recommending. The truth is that we have occasion to sit during so many other times during the day that even if you stood all day during work, it’s likely that you may still find yourself sitting for the majority of your day.

Sadly, the vast majority of people who invest in getting a sit-stand desk end up leaving the desk in the seated position after the first few weeks of experimentation. Why is this? There are likely to be a number of explanations, but one reason might be that people underestimate the difficulty of the transition from sitting to standing. As a society we are so used to sitting. We sit in school for many years, sit during meals, sit in our cars, and sit while we watch T.V. With our bodies so used to sitting, it’s no wonder that many people find the transition to standing more difficult than they originally anticipated.

“…the vast majority of people who invest in getting a sit-stand desk end up leaving the desk in the seated position…”

Most people who try standing but give up are the ones who go cold turkey from sitting to standing. It’s a little bit like deciding to run a marathon with no training. You need to allow your body some time to get use to standing so it is best to start out with short periods of standing and gradually over a period of weeks lengthen the time during the day that you find you can stand comfortably. If you have back issues or other physical limitations, you might want to make the transition very gradually. The most important thing is to listen to your body, but it may help to keep a standing log and set goals. The main point here is that standing is both a behavioral and a physical change so being smart about the transition is something that requires a conscious effort.

In addition to being intentional about the transition from sitting to standing, it’s absolutely essential in our opinion to invest in a good anti fatigue mat, also known as a “standing mat.” Our strong hypothesis is that the majority of people who intend to stand but revert to sitting never bothered to get an anti-fatigue mat or at least a good anti-fatigue mat. Standing for any period of time without a good anti-fatigue mat is like walking a mile with no shoes on. Sure, you can do it, but the experience is not very pleasant and after a few times you’ll end up concluding that it’s not worth it.

“Standing for any period of time without a good anti-fatigue mat is like walking a mile with just one shoe on. Sure, you can do it, but the experience is not very pleasant…”

Most office buildings are carpeted, but there’s generally no padding or very little padding under the carpet. It may not seem like a big deal when you are used to sitting, but when you are standing for the majority of the day without a mat you will begin to feel the cumulative impact of the lack of padding on your legs, joints and back. It’s similar to walking around a trade show at a convention center. They roll out carpeting on concrete floors, but there is no padding. You really don’t notice it for the first few hours, but by the afternoon you start really feeling it. If you are lucky enough to find a tradeshow booth with thick carpeting and padding underneath, it’s like heaven compared to the hard floor of the aisles.

Similarly, if you are a runner and you run on roads, your body can take the impact for a number of years. But after a while, and it might be decades, the cumulative impact of all the pounding takes a toll on your body, and that’s when you’ll do anything to find a nice trail to run on. Tennis players who have played on clay or grass courts after playing on hard courts know what we are talking about.

Obviously, when you are standing at a desk you don’t have the same pounding and impact on your joints as if you are in motion, but just your own body weight standing on a hard surface is enough to place your joints, ligaments, and muscles under stress. A good anti fatigue mat will absorb your body weight and take an enormous amount of pressure off your musculoskeletal system. So standing on a high quality mat will not only benefit your body over the long haul, but it makes it much more comfortable to stand for longer periods of time so your standing compliance will increase and you will be much more likely to stick with it. A good standing mat is literally like heaven, particularly if you are in bare feet or just have your shoes off.

“A good anti fatigue mat will absorb your body weight and take an enormous amount of pressure off your musculoskeletal system.”

But, don’t just listen to us. Try it. If you invest in a good quality anti-fatigue mat, you will feel the night and day difference we are talking about. Many ergonomists are remiss in not recommending that people get a standing mat. Some of them might not think it is necessary if people are alternating between sitting and standing since they are only standing for part of the day. Others are concerned that if your chair doesn’t easily roll over the mat, then the mat would need to be moved out of the way when people want to sit. That may require bending over for 2-3 seconds to move the mat. It’s impractical for most chairs to be able to roll over an anti-fatigue mat, and unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from bending over or puts you at risk, it is absurd to think it is too difficult or inconvenient to bend over to slide the mat out of the way a few times a day. So if you have a sit-stand desk or any kind of standing desk, perhaps the most important thing you can do is to get a good anti-fatigue mat. You won’t believe the difference it will make. In our next blog we’ll discuss what to look for in selecting an anti-fatigue mat.

Standing Desk: 10 Tips for Maximizing Your Standing Experience

I’ve been using a standing desk for nearly 5 years now. I love it and can’t ever imagine going back to being a sitter. I stand virtually all day, with a few breaks here and there for meetings and occasionally when I just feel like “cheating.” Based on my time as a stander, I have found a number of things to be helpful in creating a better standing experience.

1) A Good Anti-Fatigue Mat- This is my #1 tip for anyone who plans to do a lot of standing. Get a good anti-fatigue mat. There are lots of mats out there. I think the Standee Mat is the best mat on the market for the money. Most mats on the market are ¾” thick, but the Standee Mat is 7/8” in thick. It doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but you would be surprised at the increase in comfort that the extra 1/8” makes, particularly when you consider the cumulative impact over the course of the day. For the last couple of years, I have been using the Standee MAT-XL which is 70” long. What I like about it is that it encourages movement since I can walk around when I am on the phone or talking to someone in my office. I feel like it gives me more freedom and feel less confined that when I use a smaller mat.

I’ve heard some people say that they don’t use an anti-fatigue mat because they alternate between sitting and standing all day, and they don’t want to have to bend over and move the mat out of the way. Even if you only plan to stand for half the day, I think you will find that an anti-fatigue mat can make an enormous difference in your standing experience. For people who are concerned about having to bend over and move the mat out of the way a few times a day, keep in mind that unless you have a medical condition, bending over is actually good for you, and it’s not a very big deal.

2) Get a Lacrosse Ball to Work the Bottom of Your Feet- I like to stand on my mat either in bare feet or in socks. I have a lacrosse ball that I use on my mat. Throughout the day I simply step on the ball and move it around, focusing on different parts of my foot. You don’t have to be an expert in foot reflexology to know that various parts of your foot are connected to different parts of your body. Rolling your foot over the lacrosse ball is relaxing and is helpful in releasing tight spots. Lacrosse balls are pretty hard so you can control the amount of pressure you place on the bottom of your foot, depending on how deep you want to go.

 3) Use a Lacrosse Ball to Work Hip Flexors- I have particularly tight hip flexors so I like to use the same lacrosse to help loosen my hip flexors. I generally do this in two ways. I either place the ball between the edge of my desk and my hip flexor and then lean in with my weight and move the ball back and forth across the hip flexor tendon. I can do this when I am just reading emails of talking on the phone. This works if you are using a desktop standing desk like the Standee Classic or Standee Classic-XL. If you have a freestanding height-adjustable desk like the Standee Flex or another similar style desk, you can use the lacrosse ball against a wall, working the hip flexor tendon in the same manner.

 4) Use a Lacrosse Ball on Upper Back and Shoulders- I also like to use the lacrosse ball on my upper back to relieve stress and get at any tight spots. Unless you want to get on the floor in your office, you need a wall to work your upper back with a lacrosse ball. It is similar to trigger point massage. You can apply pressure with your weight by leaning into the wall. You can keep the ball in one place once you have isolated a tight spot or move the ball back and forth with small movements to try to unstick the tight tissue.

 5) Use a TheraCane on Tight Spots in Your Back, Neck and Shoulders- I learned about TheraCanes from my physical therapist when I was rehabbing from rotator cuff surgery. A TheraCane is a cane-shaped plastic device that is designed to allow you to apply pressure to various parts of your body to release tight spots. It can be used as a substitute for a lacrosse ball or in conjunction with it. I like to keep one by my desk so I can work the tight spots in my upper back while I am reading emails or doing a conference call via speaker phone. Sometimes I also use it on my hip flexors or other body parts depending on what feels tight.

 6) Stretch Your Calves with a Standing Calf Stretch- Sometimes my calves get tight after standing for a while. One stretch is like is a standing calf stretch. I do this stretch by leaning against my desk and with my front leg bent and my back leg straight with my heel on the ground. I generally hold the stretch for just 15 seconds or so and then switch legs.

 7) Use a Large Exercise Ball- I keep a large exercise ball in my office. Some people like to use them for sitting, but I like to use mine for stretching and changing up my standing position. You can make up your own positions, but the way I use it most frequently is by placing the ball to one side of me and resting one knee with a bent leg on top of the ball. This helps me stretch my quads and also keeps me active and allows me to change things up throughout the day.

If you are feeling adventuresome, you can use the exercise ball for a lot of other things throughout the day. I like rolling around on my stomach or back to keep loose.

8) Use Your Anti-Fatigue Mat to Stretch Your Quads- If there are any parts of my legs that get tight from standing, it’s my quads. Once or twice a day, I like to kneel on my cushy Standee Mat and then sit back on my heels. It’s very simple, but it gives my quads a great stretch.

9) Use a Squeeze Ball- I keep a squeeze ball on my desk. I haven’t found huge benefits in using a squeeze ball, but I like to use it periodically throughout the day just to relieve tension and stay relaxed. It probably helps to build grip strength as well. I wouldn’t call it an essential piece of equipment, but I like it as part of my overall bag of tricks that I keep in my office.

10) Sit On a Rolled Towel in Your Car- This is a trick I learned from my physical therapist.  The idea is basically to raise your hips so your hips are tilted forward when you are sitting. I have tried a number of tilted seats and various cushion products. A lot of them can probably help, but I find that a rolled up towel gets the job done and is a cheap solution.  Elevating your hips when you are sitting is a good thing to do anytime, but it is most convenient for me to do while driving, particularly if I have a long drive. It even helps just on my commute to work. If I get to work with loose hips, I have an easier time standing all day.

16 Benefits of Standing Desks That You Might Not Know

Have you heard the latest trend in office furniture? It’s the standing desk. Whether you work in a traditional office setting or work at home, it’s beneficial to have a work set-up that provides an alternative to sitting. Of course, it takes a little bit of discipline to get used to standing and working, but if you care about your health you should look into doing it on a regular basis. According to US News and World Reports, it's estimated that 86 percent of American workers sit all day long.

Many say that sitting all day is the new health hazard that may end your life sooner. Experts say that it might even be worse than smoking. It’s that serious. Maybe down the road traditional desks will be required to come with warning labels, just like cigarettes. So if you are unfamiliar with the standing desk phenomenon, stand up and take note of these 16 benefits of standing desks that you might not know.

Body Benefits

1. Better for your back: According to Prevention Magazine, sitting puts 40 percent more pressure on your lower back, which can lead to chronic pain issues.
2. Decreases risk for certain diseases: Sitting all the time increases your risk for certain diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. Standing for longer periods of time can help your body fight off illness and be healthier in the long run.
3. Burns more calories than sitting: Standing alone burns about 20-50 more calories per hour than sitting according to a study by the wellness group Livestrong.
4. Increased energy: Standing gives you energy! Your circulation is active and pumping more when you are upright.
5. Improvement in your circulation: Standing allows your body’s circulatory system to work better, causing more blood to flow to your hands, legs, and feet. The extremities suffer most when you are sitting down all day. Poor circulation leads to of a “pins and needles” feeling, numbness, or even coldness in your limbs.
6. Keeps your core engaged: Your core muscles are engaged when you are standing, making them stronger and keeping you in better shape.
7. Decreases risk of obesity: Sitting leads to weight gain. By standing you are decreasing your risk for obesity throughout your lifetime. This is especially important as you age because your metabolism slows down as you get older.
8. Helps lower cholesterol: This goes back to improvements in circulation (keeping your arteries and vessels pumping better) which can help lower your cholesterol.

Mental Health Benefits

9. Allows you to fully engage your mind: Standing lets you feel more attentive. It fully engages your mind in a way that sitting does not.
10. Provides heart benefits: Sitting is the new fast food. We all know how bad the saturated fat is in fast foods, so can sitting have a similar effect on the body? Sitting does not promote circulation. This can lead to heart issues in the same way that fast food does.
11. You’ll live longer: Being fit, healthy, and active helps you live longer. Knowing that you are taking care of your body by using a standing desk could give you a better mental outlook, leading to a longer, healthier life. It's estimated that people who sit for more than 11 hours per day have a 40 percent increased risk of dying.
12. Gets rid of mental fog: Standing makes you less foggy in your day-to-day activities and has more of an impact than that cup of coffee. Get rid of mental fog and increase your confidence by standing up to work.
13. Decreases depression: Standing naturally helps to get rid of depression. It’s harder to be depressed if you are standing up, engaging your entire body and mind at the same time.

Productivity Benefits

14. Sense of urgency when working: There is a greater drive to get things done when you are standing.
15. It’s cool: Standing desk have only recently become popular so you’ll be on the forefront of the standing desk movement. You’ll look cool and be on the cutting edge of hipness while helping out your body and mind.
16. Spurs faster thinking: The reason that standing leads to faster thinking is that your brain is able to engage on all cylinders. There’s something to be said for “thinking on your feet.”

A few tips:

• Take breaks if you need them: Don’t just jump into an 8-hour standing workday if you are used to sitting most of the time. Gradually easing into the standing desk lifestyle will help you stick with it.
• Make sure you have an anti-fatigue mat: A good anti-fatigue mat is probably the single greatest factor in creating a successful standing experience. Standing on an anti-fatigue mat like the Standee Mat makes standing for a few hours a day a simple undertaking for most people. Standing on the hard ground can quickly cause foot, leg, and back pain. Wearing “comfy shoes” isn’t enough. 
• Positioning needs to be right for your body and height: Make sure that the height of the standing desk is right for your specific body. Hand and arms need to be positioned correctly so that you back and neck are lined up correctly. If not, it could lead to muscle and joint pain problems all over your body. Take the time to line up your standing desk the right way for you. Learn more here.