A Standing Desk Makes Me More Productive, Even If It’s Not “Healthier”

None of that is important to me.

Thats all I want from it.

Standing, however, does the opposite.

Doing the simple things, like typing, reading, and clicking links requires effort from my entire body.

I have to hold myself up no matter how simple the task at hand.

If it sounds exhausting, it kind of is.

But thats a good thing.

It adds some momentum and urgency to my day.

That urgency helps me concentrate and focus.

Not in a sloppy way, but in a Im totally absorbed in what Im doing way.

I get in the zone quicker, and stay in it longer.

I shun distractions and stay productive because I know that getting work done means I can rest sooner.

With a standing desk, my own inherent laziness makes me more productive.

I was like a machine that was slowly starting to warm up.

Standing forced me to start working right out of the gate.

This revelation was a game-changer for me.

My mornings jump start into productivity and my breaks only come when I actually need them.

The sleepy fog that comes from eating too much ortotally binging on carbs for lunchcan completely waste your afternoon.

When its time to get back to work, standing gets me back into work mode.

Whether you stand or sit,moving and being active is what keeps you healthy.

), and even dance around like an idiot to my music.

My Fitbit tells me my daily steps have skyrocketed since I started using a standing desk.

Its amazing how big of a mental barriergetting up on your feetreally is.

Even better, all the extra activity helps me concentrate and think creatively.

But thats the beauty of a standing desk; it gives sitting purpose.

Sitting goes from being the norm to being what it should be: a break.

Rest is just as vital for productivity as work is, and now sitting fills that role for me.

Sitting has become a tool.

Those two layers of fatigue can be a double-edged sword, however.

Standing desks wear me out both physically and mentally, soIm not up for muchafter working hours.

Ask any retail worker, restaurant server, or anyone else that stands all day.

Illustration by Angelica Alzona.