The standing desk experiment is ongoing and the news has not all been good. I’ve had on-weeks and off-weeks and I’m still not 100% comfortable. But at the moment I’m on an on-week and things are much improved. It’s down to the fact that I decided to fashion a thick mat out of materials around the house. This is it:
It’s made from a never-used Lidl camping foam mat folded in three, sitting on top of an exercise mat (Duct Tape implied). I also decided to try it without footwear. And it works! Ignore the naff socks, they are double-layered running socks so I don’t freeze. I’m shocked at how much better “bare” feet on the mats are over shoes/runners. It’s like night and day. The problem I had previously was not my legs, it was my heels which hurt like hell. And slowly that pain is going away. Removing the footwear also enables me to wiggle and wriggle my feet and body more so I don’t get stiff. It’s like the Macarena in here I tell you.
So the plan to get a pair of Vibram FiveFingers may be on hold:
The standing desk does challenge your back initially but now mine is far better than before I started. RSI in right hand/forearm still there but improving. Posture is way better and my totally cramped neck and shoulders are slowly releasing their vice-grip.
This is the overall setup:
Cost = Approx €8. Benefit = 2000x.
Thanks for the update Conor, watching it all with interest
When I spent hours in a desk in silicon valley, I spent days looking for the perfect chair. Which was my refuge up until a couple of years, I moved it from company to company, and I miss it. I got rid of the carpal lump in my wrist by switching to a trackball, and have worn out many of those. If that was your working desk under your current arrangement, I would suggest a better one, should you become a seated exec again.
Ye know, I’ve realised that I’ve never been comfortable in any chair I’ve worked in and I’ve tried lots over the years. Never had a chance to try an Aeron tho
I have two other desks in the main office which are more “traditional” but I’m really getting into the standing groove with this one in my side-office cubbyhole.I have a old trackball too which I must fish out and try again.
Conor,Hugely impressed with your quest for a healthier working station here.My 2p worth:A few years back I bought a Herman Millar ‘Mirra’ chair, cheaper than Aeron, but still eye-wateringly expensive. Try & find one & sit in it, this is the only way to know if you’d take to it, but I’ll bet you will. I’ve long since forgotten about the cost, but it almost completely removed horrific back pain from a cheap chair I was using. Don’t regret a penny of it.I used to have arrangement a bit like yours where my screen was against a wall, but there’s something I don’t like about that so, space permitting, try working with your back to the wall & workstation viewed against room space.Input Devices: I us a good Logitech Revolution mouse (best ever!) , an Apple Trackpad & Wacom pen. Switch around to use different muscles & avoid RSI.Cheers.
Thanks David. I’ve been tempted in the past to stump up for a really good chair. I think the low point was the £19 Viking one
Very interesting point about position in room. My cubbyhole is too dark anyway so I’ll probably be going back out to main office.I bought a graphics tablet recently. Hated it 
Was leaning on my forearm even more than before.. I may try the Revolution tho.
You’re left handed!?
I've had a bunch of people ask me that. I didn't realise being left handed was still as novel as being gay in Ireland. I'm neither
However I am cross-dominant (hence the name of the blog) . I write right handed but anything sporty is left handed. And I'm left eyed. Seem to be 50:50 with legs. The mouse is in the left hand due to RSI.
Thanks for the info on standing desks Conor. I’m in my 2nd week of standing and loving it. Have read lots of stuff around the web and it seems like a winner.Also thinking about having a go at the barefoot running thing… although I’d miss my current 7k run whilst building up distance…
I’m about 50:50 at the minute. I find I need to sit down when I’m writing something long but for most tasks, standing works fine.I was stunned how well I got on in the Bandon Half Marathon with the VFFs. My terror of breaking every bone in both feet was unwarranted. A couple of blisters is all I suffered.Next outing is in 2 weeks for the Courtmacsherry 10k. Hopefully I’ll be faster than last year!
Best of luck with the 10k!