2.5 minutes that changed my day – Community update
Doing what you can to stand
On March 10, 2010 I posted, “2.5 minutes that changed my day.” It generated some interesting conversation about the value of getting up and moving around in the office. Roger advocated for the benefits of standing up while working in his office. The picture to the left is Roger on sight in Tanzania. He figured out how to stand up and work. Yup, that’s a printer box under his laptop! Too cool.
Thanks to Roger, I’m standing at the kitchen counter with my laptop. I’ve tipped my laptop away from me by elevating the front with two books. Roger, you may find the keyboard more comfortable if you tip the laptop the other way. (Just a thought)
Elevated home workspace
Here is Roger’s elevated home workspace. It’s changed a bit since the picture but you can see he elevated the workspace with some crates. Roger says, “I can REALLY recommend standing up, makes a BIG difference to posture, concentration, telephone conversations (no lounging back in a chair!)”
Roger, thanks for contributing to the community. Here’s to your health!
About 100 Leadership Freak readers downloaded the stop watch I recommend or went to the Internet timer.
What are you doing to get out of the chair and stay active?
General note: I’m sending an email to every new subscriber and I want you to know it’s not computer generated. It comes directly from me. When a person subscribes I do a quick Internet search on their email address to see if I can learn about them. Then I send a personalized email.
Read the original post: 2.5 minutes that changed my day
Leadership Freak
Dan Rockwell
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The elevated working space is well known also in Scandinavia. I noticed when I did a tour in Brussels, that a lot of the offices of the Danes and Norwegians had these standing desks.
I subconciously allready knew what a great solution such an elevated (working)space is; I’ve been standing at wet bars for years now 😉 .
Hans,
Good to hear from you. I guess I need to catch up with the Danes and Norwegians.
Stay well,
Dan
Boy are we on the same page. I get so tired of sitting, and sometimes need more mobility to reach things or put them away. You have encouraged me to try some hair brained scheme I had. There is room at the top of my roll top desk for a second monitor. I am working on ways to easily elevate and lower my wireless keyboard. Wish I could afford one of the desks the Danes and Norwegians use, but I’ll have to compromise. Any ideas? (Mine is a home office.)
Anhinga,
Thanks for your first comment on Leadership Freak. This whole “move around theme” is a fluke and I’m lovin it. Perhaps some of the engineer types who read Leadership Freak have some ideas on how to elevate your wireless keyboard. Lets see what happens.
Keep movin,
Dan
You can take this one step further and put a used treadmill in your workspace and “walk” very slowly while working. There is a researcher at the Mayo Clinic (I think) who is studying the effects on weight loss, general health and concentration/productivity. The trick seems to be to go slowly enough that you don’t have to pay attention to walking.
Andrew,
You are another first time commenter.. thanks for jumping in. I have an elliptical machine but I think I would kill myself if I tried working on that. Your suggestion isn’t for the uncoordinated!
Be well
Dan
I am currently attending another Army school (It seems like I am in school about every other year for 2 or 3 months) but I plan on trying this when I get to my new job. I can really see that there will be great benefits. I found another article about this on the NY Times website:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/stand-up-while-you-read-this/
Check out the pictures of a standing desk with a walking treadmill! I thought think of the calories you would burn if you did this all day!!
Great discussion thanks again Dan,
Hey Dallas,
All the best in this Army school session. Thanks for the link and the picture.. Great contribution to the discussion. I’m still setting my stop watch and getting up every 30 minutes. Here’s another benefit. I think it improves my sour attitude!
Regards,
Dan
I know in my last assignment I used to always get up about every 90 minutes and take a 5 minute walk and it helped clear my mind so I am sure it would work even better every 30 minutes instead. I bet you get more accomplished in a day than you used to as well.
Dallas,
I find the brisk walk every 30 minutes increases my urgency to complete tasks. If the 30 minute walk comes around and I’m in the middle of something, I still take the walk…the walk makes me hurry back to the task.
I’m sure others would find this distracting. But I find it’s useful.
Note: I’ve found that I need to be sure and wear good quality shoes to work.
Stay healthy,
Dan
I’m taking this to the classroom! Don’t worry, I’ll just make sure my professors seek out Dan Rockwell when I get in trouble.
Ashlin,
Perhaps we should go back to ancient cultures when instructors sat and students stood!
Thanks
Dan
Interesting concept. When I’m not out of town, I spend between 8 to 9 hours in front of the computer, with no thought at all regarding exercise. I will put your theory to the test asap and see what difference it makes.
Vivian,
Thanks for joining in… please let us know how it all works out.
Enjoy,
Dan
Thanks, Dan – putting the picture has motivated me to try this out, even more impact than reading the earlier post..I may not be able to stand up and work (and get all the unwanted attention 🙂 as I am sitting in a common area, typical IT cubicles) but I am going to stand up and talk on phone as if I picked it on the way out…and go over and talk to my team members, who sit across, rather than IM them…
Thanks !
Ariathi,
Thanks for leaving your first comment on Leadership Freak. I look forward to hearing more from you in the future. You’re encouraging us to keep moving.
Stay well,
Dan
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