Best Standing Desks: Why Work on Your Feet?

I'm a programmer with nearly ten years of experience. My daily interactions are primarily with computers, not people. Working 10 hours a day is commonplace, and I spend most of my working time sitting. Over time, I've developed lumbar and cervical spine problems.

I often joke that, in my 30-plus years, I've had nothing but herniated discs.

I recently had severe back pain, and I gradually realized that I had accumulated a host of health issues over the years. If I didn't find a way to address them, my future would likely be even worse.

I remember when I was fresh out of school, young and in great shape, and I absolutely loved playing basketball. Every Friday after get off work, I'd meet up with a few colleagues at the school basketball court near our office to play for a few hours (our company at the time had a two-hour weekend off). During our games, we fresh graduates were always running and jumping, while those who'd been working for years didn't have the same stamina; they'd just play for a while and then sit on the sidelines.

Two of my colleagues particularly impressed me.

One had a high basketball IQ and could always find the right pass and shot. However, he had knee and back injuries, injuries he said were from years past, and he'd ignored them before. Now, with age, they've gotten worse. Before every game, he'd warm up for over 20 minutes nearby, and even then, he was hesitant to engage in strenuous activity.

Secondly, he's almost 185cm tall and weighs over 180 pounds. He's a fantastic basketball player, saying, "I wish I could dunk back then." When he first started working, he weighed less than 150 pounds, but within a few years, he'd gained over 30 pounds. He's also having back problems, and can't play for long periods of time. He told us, "Don't underestimate your current stamina; in a few years, most of you will be like me." We didn't believe him at the time, thinking it was absolutely impossible.

And then reality hits you in the face.

I'm in almost the same situation now: 179cm tall, over 160 pounds, with issues in my lumbar and cervical spine. I haven't exercised for a long time, and except for my breaks from work, I just stay home. I haven't played basketball in about three or four years. My only connection to basketball now is the NBA, but I haven't watched a full game in ages. I just follow the news and the stats every day. I'm a huge fan of Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. I still remember the day Kobe passed away, secretly wiping away tears.

Today (2020-08-21), the Lakers won a playoff game, their first in eight years, the last time the Big Boss was still around...

I really want to hear "Kobe, this is for you!"

Sorry, I've gotten off topic.

My main point is, after all these years of working, the nature of my job means I sit most of the time, and coupled with my lack of exercise, I've developed some issues with my lumbar and cervical spines.

If I weren't so poor, I'd really like to see the world.

I still have to work properly, but that requires me to sit for long periods of time, which causes pain and discomfort in my lumbar and cervical spines. So, to solve this problem, I officially discovered standing desks.

As the name suggests, a standing desk is a desk where you can work while standing. They can be roughly categorized as integrated standing desks and freestanding standing desks.

The main function of a standing desk is that it allows you to work while standing, effectively avoiding the various physical discomforts caused by prolonged sitting.

If you're in the same situation as me, I recommend buying a standing desk like this for your office. It can significantly reduce back and neck discomfort.

1. Integrated Standing Desk

This type of desk needs to be placed on a regular desk. Compared to the first type, it's more suitable for office use because it's compact and lightweight, and most can be raised or lowered, allowing you to alternate between standing and sitting. Standing all the time can get tiring, so the best way to balance this is to stand for a while, then sit for a while.

I spent a long time choosing and ultimately settled on the one pictured below. The left side is the basic model, and the right side has a bevel upgrade. It comes in white and black. I bought the basic black model (the one on the left in the picture below), and it's very practical.

It's made of synthetic wood and weighs over 10 pounds. It's very stable on the desk and looks great. It's sold directly by JD.com, so installation is required and it's ready to use right out of the box. It has over 5,300 reviews on JD.com and a 96% positive rating.

It's height-adjustable and easily raises and lowers. When fully closed, it can be used while sitting. It has three different height settings. Although the image below indicates a suitable height, it's actually much wider than that, and someone up to 190cm tall will have no problem using it.

There are many other options with similar functions, but varying prices and styles. Below are some highly recommended products on JD.com that have strong sales and positive reviews. See if you find one that suits your taste.

1. Brateck Standing Desk

Similar to the one I bought, but a bit more expensive, it can be raised to a maximum of 40cm, which is sufficient for normal use. The desktop is available in various sizes. Made of metal, it weighs over 8kg and has a maximum weight capacity of 8kg.

This brand offers a variety of designs (electric lift, double-layer, keyboard tray, etc.). Click the link below to see the brand's recommendations.

2. Levo Standing Desk

This model has a separate keyboard stand that raises and lowers. The desktop is available in various sizes, has a maximum weight capacity of 15kg, and can be raised to 50cm. It comes in black or white.

This brand also offers a variety of designs (electric lift, double-layer, keyboard tray, etc.). Click the link below to see the brand's recommendations.

3. Jiabai Standing Desk

This model features a front card slot for phones, rises to a maximum of 40cm, and has a maximum weight capacity of 10kg.

Image from JD.com. Infringement will be deleted.

This brand also offers a variety of designs (electric lift, double-layer, keyboard tray, etc.).

2. Freestanding Standing Desk

This tall desk can be used for standing work, and some are designed to be liftable.

Because it's freestanding, it's not suitable for offices and more suitable for home use.

This type is generally more expensive. I recommend the following model, which is liftable and electrically operated.

To be honest, I personally don't think it's very practical. It's better to choose an integrated desk, which allows you to choose the desk you want. Of course, this is just my personal opinion.

Okay, that's all I recommend for now; I'll update later.

Recommendation: Try not to sit for long periods of time. Stand up and move around frequently while working if possible. Your health is the foundation of your revolution.

Young man, exercise more when you have nothing to do, and don’t play games all the time, it’s too harmful to your phone.