I can’t stand it!
Actually, you may be able to. Standing work stations have become very popular in the past couple of years. They even made the front page of the New York Times back in 2009.
Multi-tasking your body and your mind
One of the advantages of a standing work-station is the freedom of movement and quick response times to move to other tasks and other areas of the office. More often than not, a sitting area (in a workshop area) or a nearby stool provides an alternative to standing all day, which is just as bad as sitting all day. Even when you think you’re standing still, your body is constantly in motion. This can help keep you alert and is great for keeping you in shape. Just remember to shift your position regularly if you decide to go this route.
Caveat emptor2
Even more so than with the ergonomic chairs: be very careful if you decide to buy. There are a number of companies that jumped on this ‘bright, new, shiny thing’ and have put out questionable product. More importantly, though there are many physical benefits there are also physical risks for some people with a standing station. If you are under a doctor’s care for any reason check with your doctor before you opt for this type of system.
It’s all about the desktop
There are a lot of people (IT’s and SysOps included you know who you are) who have messy desktops (real and virtual). A standing workstation usually has minimal space and should be kept as free of clutter as possible. Making sure the height is set properly is an absolute must. The station should be able to expand to accommodate everything you need or, ideally, be incorporated into your entire workspace. Dividing your office/workshop/workspace into different task areas can help you keep it organized and functioning optimally.
Check, check, check
Physical / spatial / mental benefits can all be a plus for this option BUT there are things you have to check for first. Check with your doctor if necessary. Check with your Department Manager to see if this type of workstation is viable / allowable in your office. Check out the various systems that are available.
Once again, try it out because you may not need to stand OR sit!
(more next post)
