It helps my back pain and posture
This is the original and still best reason I have for using a standing desk. In the past, I wrote about my favorite desk accessories for back pain and posture issues. After years of poor posture, too much smartphone use, and a sedentary combination of desk work and PC gaming, I found myself with recurring pinched nerves and distracting back pain.
Switching to a standing desk was the first step to reversing that dangerous debilitating trend, and though it still isn’t perfect today, it’s much better than it was. I attribute that to my standing desk.
Today, I spend most of my days standing, not sitting. I stand to work, I stand to game, and though I have a few seated sessions throughout the day to rest, it’s only for a short while—and then I’m back up again. Standing keeps me more upright. Plus, I can better control my desk environment so that my monitor is at the right height and my wrists are held at a neutral angle while typing.
It keeps me moving, too. I don’t just sit still, slowly caving forward as I grow tired. I’m able to dance, to pace, to rock from foot to foot, or even do some flamingo legging. All of this helps prevent me from getting stuck in one bad position that slowly cements into my default.
Back pain will always be something I have to contend with due to the nature of my work and choice of hobbies, but with a standing desk I have a much better chance of staving off the worst of it.