Avoid hemorrhoids: Improve Hacking and Health by Moving Your Chair

I'm typing this from a standing desk: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1038179/Fredrik2.jpg

It's a "Fredrik" from Ikea, which courteously lets you choose the height of the desk and shelves, and doesn't stop you from putting them in the wrong spots. I've been using it for almost a year, and it's perfectly sturdy.

One caveat: make sure you make it high enough. Using a standing desk when the keyboard is even a few inches too low can be miserable on your back. The desk should be at the height of your elbows, and no lower.

I've been sitting on an exercise ball for the last couple years, since I read a local newspaper article about schools in my community that offer those to schoolchildren to sit on. But only last week I discovered that most school exercise balls have knobs on them that keep them in place. Mine is a regular ball, which can roll in any direction. Maintaining my balance provides subtle movement any time I am at the computer, which is a lot of each day for me.

P.S. What do all of you recommend for more ergonomic keyboards and pointing devices? I am not happy with my Dell keyboard nor with any mouse, but the last trackball I tried was even more annoying than my current mouse. (I have liked trackballs very well in the past, but I have to favor my thumb basal joints now that I am older.)

I have one question as regards ergonomics. How do you keep good neck posture? I've a habit of protruding my head outward really close to the monitor, and reading books at a very close distance (like 6 inches). As a result, my shoulders, neck, and head now make out the x^3 curve (it should of course ideally be somewhat straight). I have to consciously think about keeping my neck straight... but it's very hard to be mindful of this 24/7.

This stand-up hacking approach, does not only make my hacking productive, but also helps me on critical thinking. When I'm not typing, I just walk away from screen, and do some critical thinking instead. After I cleared my head, I'll continue typing and hacking.

Looking at screen while thinking would make me scatterbrained, and get nothing done.

I used a standing workstation for about a year. I now have a really nice ergonomic chair and a good desk. The standing workstation was pretty nice, and the OP is right, you do get used to standing after a couple weeks of doing it. The fact was, however, that because it took more effort to stand than sit, on the days I didn't really feel like working I was much more inclined to sit on my couch or at the kitchen table than I was to use my standing workstation, which of course negated any benefit I had from using the standing workstation. So I eventually abandoned the idea. I encourage people to try it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most people grow tired of it and move back to a desk eventually.

Reading this from my chair

I like this idea but couldn't implement it due to problems with my heart. I think the old company of diet + exercise + not being grossly overweight should never be overlooked. Also I find frequent walks (on the pretense of getting coffee) can be very beneficial.

or more importantly: workout regularly

Donald Rumsfeld does this. He used it to justify "stress positions."

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,6582...

If you stand, proper keyboard height is very important. Your wrists should not be bent while you type; otherwise, you risk a repetitive stress injury.

I have a standing desk now. Highly recommended.