Standup routine. Rachel's diary. Day 8

Spoke to another professional, a non practicing chiropractor, sitting all the time is not good for us,  weight gain, system slows down, as standing all the time is not good for us, shoes and posture become really important standing, that's my killer heels out then. When you stand you are more likely to lock your knees, slightly bent knees is better.  If pregnant it's not advisable to stand all the time.

Standup routine. Rachel's diary. Day 6

My body is getting into this, I'm not sure I can go back.  I'm combining standing at the computer with sitting at the desk for sketching.  My working style is varied in that I spend time at the computer, choosing materials, sketching ideas.

Standup routine. Rachel's diary. Day 4.

I've had a chiropracter in to look at my position.  He was enthusiastic with the change saying it was much better for me to go from standing to sitting throughout the day.

My keyboard and mouse is too high. funny, cos i thought you had to have your arms at 90 degrees, apparently not, and as we change the size of box that my keyboad sits on my shoulders feel so much better.  I need a stool for lower desk use.

Standup routine. Rachel's diary. Day 2

Maybe it's the gravity but this standing up is making me make unexpected mid afternoon visits to the wc!  There's definitively something going on with my skeleton, there's a lightness in my rib cage and my hips feel open.

Standup routine. Rachel's diary. Day 1

Working on the refurbishment of IDEO london has provoked a radical move in the office as Rachel tests out standup working.

Push back the Herman miller adjustable, out with the boxes to prop up the computer and i'm ready to go.  Putting my money where my mouth is I'm trying out the standing desk.

Feeling somewhat conspicuous my standing soon attracts attention from others in the office and animated discussion into the health benefits of the chair stoke up. The Horizon programme is brought up and opinions are thrown round the room.

I'm finding it easier to break away and get a drink, move to another desk to do some sketching, choose materials, look at a book on the shelf. it feels a bit distracting or maybe that actually standing up is reducing the time I stand in front of the computer. The chair isn't trapping me in.

End of the day my upper body feels open, like my ribs have been hung up from my shoulders. My hips feel looser but I have a groin strain. Is it really that much of a shock for my body after 20 years of sitting at a desk .

I feel like I slept better and still have that feeling of open ribs the next day, groin still hurts and calves are tired. 

Keep on moving

Reports today on how that inactivity is a deadly as smoking seem obvious enough-exercise is good for you right?-but whilst we may get out for a brisk walk or run around the park research from Australia suggests that a day sat in the office could be just as bad for you.  Sitting down too long increases your risk of dying, even if you are already physically active. 

The stand up workplace could provide a solution allowing workers to be mobile.  Humanscale's Float table changes height enabling rapid change between sitting and standing.  Humanscale, whose strap line is "creating a more comfortable place to work" specialise in ergonomically designed products to improve the experience of desk bound workers.

Have a look at their recommendations for a Healthy Workstation

Standup routine?

We're always looking at new ways of working to improve the environment and experience of employees. Standing up at work is being promoted by several office furniture manufacturers as an option to provide an alternative to conventional chair bound work.  We like to practice what we preach so we're trialling the standup workplace in Forster Inc's London office to see how it works and to understand the benefits, side effects and any problems.

Its a big step to change but we anticipate that stand up working will become more popular.   Rachel is keeping a diary of her experience and we'll bring you the results of how she gets on here.