When I used to work briefly at a call center, one of the common practices, because employees had to spend hours sat on the phones, was to take every other call standing up. This did two things: one was prevent sore backs. Staying mobile is important for your bones, particularly your spine and anyone reading who has ever working long hours at a computer knows this. The second benefit was what Chris mentions in a way. That is a change in mind set. He’s found that standing improves his concentration. At this call center job it was a good way to get out of that lethargic mindset. Immediately after standing you would experience a sense of motivation [at least more than you would normally at that job] and energy – even urgency. A Practical Solution I’m not going to call Chris’ solution practical for everybody, but it would be great to use during some hours of the day. For instance when your back is starting to wain or your mind is drifting. How about a desk that lifts up and down to raise you from a seating position to standing – without relocation computers or anything. Dual monitors, one high and one low, with an iron-board-like shelving unit that could come down and hold your heightened [wireless] keyboard and mouse. A pulley system to raise the desk top? Maybe customized kneelers [like in some churches] to allow for an upright back without any alterations to the desk set up. The Obvious Solution? Two computers on a network. All your information could be shared and sync’d. A shelf situated elsewhere for your laptop would be an easy option. Do you guys have some tips? It’s not the most practical desk hack, but for the sake of mobility – and for those like Chris who lack space – it’s not a bad idea.
