Terrapin Station

The Varidesk Report

So, I installed my Varidesk on January 20. That means I've been standing for part of each work day for 2.5 months.

I am still glad I have it. I like taking my shoes off and standing on the gel pad, and moving around as I stand. I know I feel better for having it. I'll confess that there are days when I am tired or out of sorts that I think, "c'mon, I don't WANT to stand up." But I almost always do it. I'm standing 30 minutes of each hour now.

I was starting to have some foot discomfort immediately after getting out of bed, and I notice that's subsided. Mostly, I appreciate not working in a chair for a solid hour or more, then standing up to go to the restroom and feeling like I'm going to fall down.

Here's a good article with more reasons that it's a great idea and ways to maximize the benefits.

 

 

Varidesk Day One

So, I tend to be a woman of enthusiasms. I tend to be a bit impulsive with GREAT! THINGS! THAT! WILL! FIX! MY! LIFE!

So, when I first read about the Varidesk last fall, I set the idea aside. "Think about it,"I said to myself. "Save the money."

As we all know, sitting is the new smoking. And I've had a career that's kept me at a desk for 8 hours per day for the last 25 years. I vowed to get up and move around more. I vowed to get back to exercising, anyway! Neither of those things happened.

When I get up after a few hours sitting, my back and legs are not happy with me, and let me know it. That can't be good. Also, I wear a Fitbit every day, but I seldom get anywhere near my daily goal of 10,000 steps. I have a recumbent bike at home, but I was not using it enough.

When I saw a Varidesk on an Ebay auction in December, I jumped...and I won the auction. The cost, with shipping, ended up being nearly what I'd have paid for a brand new one. Ah well, recycling is a good thing, right?

So, Tuesday I finally got the thing up to the office and set up. I also bought Varidesk's standing mat, as you can see.

Here it is in the "up" position.

and here it is "down."

It's taking a little getting used to, but really not much. The mechanism moves super smoothly, and there's a little app to put on the computer that reminds you when to stand and sit.

The company suggests you start with 45 minutes sitting and then 15 minutes standing. I've done that all day today, and it's been great. When I get a "buzz" and the notice to change position, I don't even need to look away from what I'm working on...just need to grab my chair and pull it in to sit, and move the keyboard and mouse. I'll be switching to cordless versions of those peripherals, just for ease, but it's not really necessary.

When I posted on Facebook about this, a friend said she'd be interested in my take on it after a month. So I've calendared to come back then and tell you how it's going. Oh, and I burned 418 calories by standing today. :)