For the past three weeks, have tried an experiment: to stand up 100% of the time I am working, be it playing music, composing, or working on the computer in any way.
I elevated to standing-height my music keyboard, laptop, and desktop computer using my alto sax case, a cooler, a shelf, and an Ikea laptop table.
I got the idea reading
this new york times article about the health benefits of standing up while working, and wanted to try it. That was three weeks ago.
The first week, I have to admit it was a challenge. My feet and joints hurt, especially my hip joint. My feet were not used to it and I had sore feet. But despite the pain and discomfort I felt better than while sitting for extended periods of time. While sitting, I had poor posture, so my back would often hurt after working for too long. No matter how many times I would try to sit up and correct my posture, soon I would slouched back into the chair and didn't think about it again until it started to hurt.
The second week, all the joint discomfort went away. I still felt tired after standing for extended periods of time, but noticed a huge difference in my overall feeling of health, and my legs began to feel rock solid. My back didn't have any discomfort, while standing I have great posture and often move around.
Now in week three, at the end of a long day at the computer I now feel like I just went for a walk, rather than a useless blob with an aching back. When I take the kids for a walk to the playground, rather than feeling sluggish and lazy about it I run and jump around with them, due to a boost in my leg strength and stamina.
I would seriously recommend that anyone who has to be at a computer for extended periods of time try the same experiment: be it writing novels, composing music, customer service, or working in an office; the health benefits are immediately felt.
Labels: health, rob bennion, Salt Lake city Jazz Band, standing while working
