‘Once you start standing, you’ll never want to stop!’
Andrew Leeming is a senior project officer at Lancashire County Council and Programme Manager at Boost, Lancashire’s business growth hub.
After suffering with back pain for many years, Andrew decided to try out an electronic standing desk that was in the office. He was instantly hooked! So, when lockdown hit in March 2020, he was keen to find a similar solution for his home.
After a brief stint using a bucket to raise his laptop to the height he required, Andrew received his Eiger Pro standing desk. We caught up with him, to find out more.
A standing desk solution for a home office
When the lockdown was first introduced, I spent the first day trying to sit down to work and my back hurt, so I knew I couldn’t continue like that.
I came across I Want A Standing Desk through a business connection. Up to that point, I had thought of standing desks as just being the large electronic desks that I had previously used in the office – and they do offer those - but the Eiger Pro works differently. It sits on top of an existing desk and can be moved about easily and put away when not needed. All of which makes it ideal for home working.
How much do you use your standing desk?
All the time!
The best thing about using a standing desk is that you can keep mobile. I find this really helps my concentration as well as benefiting my health.
Since I’ve started standing up to work, sitting down actually feels strange to me. It’s a habit now, just like sitting is a habit for most people. But honestly, once you start standing up, you’ll never want to stop. The challenge is getting people to stand up in the first place.
What do you think of the Eiger Pro?
It looks nice and is well designed. It’s compact and you can see a lot of thought has gone into it. I also like that it’s made from sustainable forestry and that the idea and passion for the product was that of a local Lancashire entrepreneur!
I don’t use the top shelf yet but it’s not great to stare at a laptop screen all the time, so I’m thinking of getting a monitor and will use it then.
As a company, I Want A Standing Desk has also been great to work with and is always on the end of the phone if I have any questions. The company’s founder, Nick, is a fabulous guy.
What would you say to someone thinking of getting a standing desk?
Do it!
We should all be looking at reducing our sedentariness during the day. A standing desk is one way you can introduce more movement, without needing to think about it.
The problem is people often get trapped behind their computer screen. Employers will consider how people are sitting and how a workspace is set up, etc, but I think we should also be thinking of steps we can take that will benefit health and wellbeing. We should then be throwing that question back at people - challenging them to think about their habits and how they can fit more activity into their day.
A standing desk won’t be right for everyone, but it is a great option to consider. Especially right now, when people are working from home, likely to be moving far less and potentially sitting on sofas and dining chairs all day, which aren’t good for posture.
Making a stand for standing up!
With remote working and the demand for greater working flexibility likely to be a legacy of the pandemic, it’s time we all made a stand for standing more!