Benefits of a Standing Desk: My Story

Last year about this time I was sitting working for probably 10 hours a day. The days that I taught I would stand maybe 2 hours and that was with difficulty. I had been sitting at a desk for years and was really feeling the effects. Around March or April last year, I decided I had to make a change. My legs and ankles were so incredibly swollen. My feet would tingle and I felt terrible overall. So out of shape!

So I decided I had to make a change. I turned around one day and I realize that bar in my kitchen area was the perfect height for me to stand and work on my computer. So I moved my stuff around and set up a standing desk workstation and that Monday I started working while standing.

Benefits of a Standing Desk: My Story

The first few days were very difficult. I had to switch out my shoes every couple hours. My back was sore; my feet are sore, but I kept on doing it.

By the third day, it was getting easier and easier. I found my focus was so much better. I could get my work done a lot faster without wasting a whole lot of time. Instead of sitting while working and taking breaks by walking, I am standing while working and take a few breaks by sitting. My back and body hurt a bit, but I kept plugging along.

What I found was that I increased my daily steps to around 3000 – 4000, just by being on my feet. When I first started, I was maybe getting in 800-1000 steps in the entire day! Now I walk back and forth through the house, doing chores in-between working. I have so much more energy!

Over the course of a few weeks, the swelling in my body was reducing. My feet and ankles reduced to normal size. I started adding juicing and changed my eating habits and exercise routine. I was beginning to feel so much better!

Fast forward to today – 9 months later and I continue to stand while working most of the day. I still alternate shoes because of support and I also stand barefoot too. It is now a habit and when I do have to sit for long periods of time, I get very antsy and it hurts my hips and back too.

One of the things on my husbands to do list is to create an office space in my office. He’s going to create a standing desk area for me as well as a seated desk area too. The plans are being drawn and he’s going to build the desk. I have the boxes here ready to pack up everything. I’m so excited!

For me the benefits of a standing desk outweigh the disadvantages. It was the catalyst to so many changes on my healthy lifestyle and better life overall.

What changes have you made in your life style that have resulted and you feeling better?