Linda Nagata: the blog at Hahví.net


Stand-Up Desk

September 7th, 2014

Okay, so, I haven’t posted here in a month(!)

It’s been busy here, but mostly with:
(1) writing…I am 79,000 words into a very rough draft of a new novel. I’m aiming for 100K to start, but it will be longer before it’s done.
(2) working out — that is, up until last week. Since then, writing has pretty much taken over. (The gym being closed hasn’t helped.)

At any rate, with all the writing — and not enough working out — I’ve started thinking that I’m spending too much time sitting down. Over the last couple of years there has been a lot of talk about using a stand-up desk. I’ve never felt inclined to go out and buy a new desk, but I did want to try the stand-up thing. So in good Hawaii fashion (we have to be adaptable here, on islands out in the middle of the world’s biggest ocean) I devised my own stand-up desk. And it’s one that easily converts to sit-down. And here it is:

home-made stand-up desk

home-made stand-up desk

Yes, that is a plastic file box under the laptop, and it’s a cardboard box under the mouse. Hey! It works for me. 🙂

It’s funny, but the keyboard and mouse really are at perfect heights for my size. The only real drawback is that I would prefer the monitor to be higher, but since it’s a laptop — no choice! And the sheepskin on the floor? Good for standing on.

And when I’m tired of standing, it takes me about thirty seconds to convert this to a sit-down desk.

Someday I might get fancy, but probably not anytime soon.

Posted on: Sunday, September 7th, 2014 at 8:22 pm
Categories: Technology.
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4 Responses to “Stand-Up Desk”

  1. Patricia Burroughs [aka pooks] Says:

    I’ve considered doing something similar as a test, but I may be a little taller than you. I don’t think that would quite get it high enough. I don’t want to spend money on it unless I know I can actually write that way!

    Thanks for the picture. Inspiring!

  2. Linda Says:

    I had the same concern — I wanted a test run before spending time and money finding a new desk. Also, I had a feeling I’d have to order one, and shipping on furniture items is absurd here.

  3. Gregory Benford Says:

    I’ve done the same, using the interzone of my kitchen–just right height for a laptop.

    Thoroughly believe in benefits of standing. + swimming, hiking, etc–gotta fight the aging beast!

  4. Linda Says:

    Which is why I’m heading back to the gym today — hopefully they’ve got all their plumbing problems fixed.