This is my desk at work, a SUWE or Stand-Up Work Environment. I’ve been using it for bout a year now I think, and still really like it. This is one of those rare moments my side table is almost clear of paperwork. Give me 10 minutes tho, that’ll change.

About seven months ago (wow, didn’t realize it was THAT long ago) I tried rigging up a standing-desk, or stand up work environment (SUWE). I ran in to a number of problem. The desk I had my computer on wasn’t tall enough, and my main work area for reviewing plans and papers was still regular height which required me to bend over just to grab a piece of paper. So I went back to sitting… and getting up… and sitting… Here is what my old set-up looked like. Aside from having to the constant getting up and down as I grabbed files, print-outs, did scanning.. it was kind of cramped.

So last weekend I hit Ikea and picked up the piece of what would become my new work station. I had been eyeing different options for quite awhile. I did a fair amount of Christmas shopping at Ikea, and each time there I would check out the various desk setups. What I was looking for was a decent sized area for my keyboard and things I keep right at hand. Pen, note pad, my water, paper clips, etc. I wanted the monitor to be elevated, a lower shelf area for the computer (needed to keep it accessible for SD card and CD access and didn’t want it on the floor), and additional shelves for reference materials. Then I also needed an open work area for when I need to review plans, sort through various documents, and just a general work surface.

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Sunday Evening: So, I got the standing desk up, and spent a few hours working today. It is a good thing I went and got the stool, I would not have been able to stand the entire time without my back giving me issues.

I was moving around quite a bit, I think part of the problem is going to be the existing “low” desk. I need a high table surface. I had some writing to do and did some of it crouched at the desk, and some with the papers in my lap while on the stool. Hmm… maybe tomorrow I’ll measure the top. I have some plywood here, I could maybe rig something up to go on top of the existing desk for now to see how I like the height.

I probably spent about 50-60% of the time standing. My goal for now is to get that in the 80-90% range.

I may need a small box or something to rest a foot on while standing. I kept wanting to take a posture like if I had one foot up on a step or something. And I’m wondering if I shouldn’t get a pad similar to what cashiers at the store stand on as well.

Monday: Monday went ok… did a mix of standing/leaning/sitting. The desk is a bit short for me though, so I have the keyboard up on a 3″ binder. Gives it a nice slant too though. So may have to rig something more permenant up. My legs/knees were very sore that night though. Need one of those mats like they have at the grocery store registers.

I wasn’t in the office at all Tuesday, visting a job site in WI. (5 hours of driving for a 30 minute meeting… whee!). Wednesday I was only here for a couple hours. The major hurdle is not having a stand-up height writing surface. I had a bunch of writing to do and ended up pulling a chair up to the other side of the bigger desk for awhile.

Shoes. Another key deal here. Stopped and got a new pair last night, Nike. My other ones were Rebok, good, but just worn out. I’m in and out a lot today, so we’ll see how the rest of the day goes…

Even though I work in construction, I’m one of the guys that has a ‘desk job’. As a project manager, I’m on the phone more and more, sending stuff by email, etc. And while I spend most of the day at my desk, I do a lot of getting up to grab files, look at plans, file submittals, and so I am getting up and sitting back down quite a bit. So the concept of a ‘stand-up desk’ has intrigued me for quite awhile.

Last place I worked we had a bar-height table for reviewing plans, with a nice high stool on rollers. I would use that a fair amount when reviewing plans and what not. Just as often standing as I flip through pages as using the stool. At my new place, it seems I am up and down from my chair more than ever, so thoughts of a stand up desk have been creeping back to the fore-front of my mind.

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