The Standing Desk

How to complete The Standing Desk

Two hours of standing while you work breaks up the long static stretches that stiffen hips and tighten your lower back. The goal isn't to stand all day but to alternate, so your body changes position several times instead of locking into one posture for eight hours.

1. Set your surface so your elbows sit at roughly 90 degrees and your monitor's top edge is at eye level
2. Stand during calls, reading, or email and sit for tasks that need deep focus
3. Use a timer or a calendar reminder to switch every 30 to 45 minutes rather than waiting until you ache
4. Put a cushioned mat under your feet and wear flat, supportive shoes, not socks on hard floor
5. Shift your weight, take a step, or do a calf raise occasionally instead of standing rigidly still

Tips

• Start with shorter stands and build up; standing badly for hours can hurt more than sitting
• If you don't own a standing desk, a counter, dresser, or stack of sturdy boxes works fine

What counts as done

You spent at least a cumulative two hours standing to work in a single day.