If you're interested in (or have used) a standing desk chances are you know they're not a new invention. They've been around for hundreds of years and historically used by some influential people including: Thomas Jefferson Winston Churchill Charles Dickens and Ernest Hemingway.
It was much more common to see people standing up while working in various factories offices and even schools back in the day. Technologies like computers Internet and email didn't exist. Today these same technologies are making a lot of us lazy.
Now we have definitive research showing standing more can significantly drop your chances of heart disease and even add two years to your life. Standing more throughout the day is not only healthier; it can positively affect the workplace environment as well.
Here are a few of my standing desk discoveries:
- More face-to-face time
- Shorter meetings
- Health conscious coworkers
MORE FACE-TO-FACE TIME
If you need to find out something from your boss or fellow coworker sending an email or instant message is the easiest route to take. Since using my standing desk I'm more willing to leave my cubicle and talk to that person directly.
Face-to-face conversation is a dying exercise. There is no better way to interpret an answer or question then by talking with someone in person. Many times the message gets lost in translation otherwise.
Be respectful. Don't run to your boss' office every time you need something but learn how to integrate more face time.
SHORTER MEETINGS
Try holding a meeting in your office if/when you have a standing desk. You'll be surprised how much shorter and effective they'll become. Traditional meetings are held sitting down which dramatically extends their duration.
We live in a world where our attention span is shorter than ever. People tend to tune out after a certain period of time and meetings become ineffective.
Simply stated -- I've noticed people are quicker to the point when they're standing up. Imagine all the extra time you'll have in your day!
HEALTH CONSCIOUS COWORKERS
Mark my words; using a standing desk will create a chain reaction. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people convert after someone has starting using a standing desk in the office.
At the UpDesk corporate office more employees are making the decision to update their workspace. Teresa who is our leading Sales Manager recently realized exercising and eating better isn't enough in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In fact you can follow here journey here: http://bit.ly/QgcFrv
(Image by NicWest2007)
