GEEK INTO SHAPE: The problem with desk jobs.

19 Sep

As I’ve mentioned before, I have a desk job. It’s a very demanding job with a ton of hours- lots of overtime, weekends, you name it. I work so much that it’s customary with my job to have a person who brings me lunch to my desk so I don’t have to take the time to get up and go to the kitchen. It’s not healthy. While there isn’t much I can do about the hours, I can do something about the sitting.

It doesn’t take scientific research to figure out that sitting all day is bad for you. I know it’s bad just based on how I feel after particularly long weeks of work- my back is trashed, my legs feel swollen and I’m starting to get little spider veins in my calves. And it’s not just about the lack of blood movement- it’s about the lack of body movement too. Not moving for hours on end makes me feel tired, sleepy, and generally lazy. But you don’t have to take my word for it- there’s a ton of scientific data coming out now all heralding the dangers of sitting for prolonged periods.

So, as of two weeks ago in my quest to find a better way to be healthy, I’ve switched from a normal sitting desk to a standup workstation. And I’ve noticed a lot of changes. For one, my mornings have become dance parties- fire up the machine and while all the programs launch and data begins moving around, also fire up some Daft Punk and start bopping! It’s made my mornings definitely happier. I even forgot to drink my coffee one morning! My back has seen a large improvement; which is by far my favorite benefit of the standup desk. But it hasn’t been all daisies and dance parties: my legs ached a lot for the first week, and at the end of the day the muscles above my knees downright hurt. I’ve since invested in a good anti-fatigue mat and a chair so by around 4pm or so, I can sit for a while until I feel ready to stand again. But all in all, it’s been a positive experience.

So where can you find one? Well, the aptly named http://www.geekdesk.com/ is a good place to start. They’re actually one of the cheaper places online but it’s still a hefty price tag. However, a lot of workplaces, if given the right sales pitch, will consider purchasing one since it does after all make for a healthier and happier employee!