I’ve mentioned my standing desk a few times recently here on the blog and on social media – I even tweeted about it at PBevent – and I know that some readers have questions so let me tell you all about it.
A few months back I decided that I really was sitting too much. An easy thing to do when you spend a lot of time online like I do.
It really is not good for me in so many ways – less moving means weight gain and sore body bits and tiredness among other things.
I decided that I needed to move more and sit less so I googled standing desks.
Wow! You could pay megabucks for these things! I couldn’t pay megabucks so I started looking for alternatives that were better than a box on a table.
My answer came on a trip to Ikea when I discover that the Bjorkudden bar table is exactly right height for me to stand at.
Tip: Remember that different tables will suit you better depending on how tall you are. You need to be able to stand comfortably without having to lift your arms too high to reach your keyboard or write easily.
This table is a simple timber table in a light Birch colour. It came flat-packed – of course! – but was easy enough to put together. Just watch out if you’re shopping because the box is very heavy and I needed help to lift it.
Here’s all the details and links to the Ikea Australia website:
BJÖRKUDDEN bar table – in Birch $149
I have a couple of foam mats that I put down to stand on when I know I will be working for a couple of hours. We have tiles in this room so they are pretty tough to stand on for too long. I got my foam mats at Clark Rubber but here’s where you can find similar online.
A couple of weeks later I decided that I would invest in the matching stool for those times when I didn’t want to stand – but I really try to stand most of the time.
The stool is handy as a side table as I work though – it often holds by bullet journal or my coffee mug!
The top of the table is 70cm (27.5″) square so it has ample room for my laptop plus some extra work stuff.
Basics on my Work Table
- Phone stand and phone
- Post it notes for my blog planner board
- Pens and pencils – loving these right now thanks to Lisa from Sweet Little Pretties lending me one at PBevent
- A3 monthly calendar planner from TinyMe
- Paper clips in a pretty tray
- Coaster for my coffee mug
- Bullet journal with button paper clips
The standing desk tucks into a corner created by our running machine and is right near a power point so I can easily plug-in my computer when I need to. I have used a Macbook Pro for a few years now after being surprised by hubby one Christmas and I love it. The power points are on the wall below my blog planner board and I keep an extension cord on the trolley there as well for when I decide to move to the couch with the computer – sometimes at night while I watch TV – although I have been trying not to use my computer at all after 8 PM.
By happy chance the trolley where the blog planner board sits is also from Ikea. We’ve had it for years but it currently holds placemats on one shelf, power cords and chargers on another shelf and my iron plus boggy stuff on the top.
Tucked under my standing desk is my craft trolley which you can read more about here.
UPDATE: I also now have The Level from Fluidstance which I stand on at my desk – read more here.
My craft desk is a standing desk, but I never thought to use it for computer time, makes sense though, I have those sore joints from sitting!
❤️ this! I choose to do the same thing when I visit the City library. People look at me like I’m nuts cos I choose not to sit down…
I’m finding it much better for my energy levels too – I’m much more likely to move away from my desk and come back to it when I’m standing.