Before you spend the money , assay one of these DIY methods to convert your current desk into a digest one . Bonus : You may already have what you want to make one .
Getty Images / Luis Alvarez
Standing desks have become fixturesin agency and at homeas more people realize their considerable benefits . As opposed to sitting all daylight , working while standing up better posture , decrease back and neck pain , andboosts focalize , mood , and productiveness . And if you add a walking diggings to your setup , you may even get your 10,000 step in before luncheon .
Credit:Getty Images/Luis Alvarez
While it ’s a gravid way for those who turn a desk job to ditch their sedentary lifestyle , stand desks can get quite expensive . Fortunately , if it ’s not in your ( or your company ’s ) budget at the moment , there are shipway you’re able to hack a standing desk toreap the same rewards . Some methods call for a small creativity , while others run a modest cost but will still keep open you from purchase a whole young desk . check how to go from sitting to standing ( and back again when your foot ask a break ) with one of the watch DIY standing desk jade .
How to Turn Any Regular Desk Into a Standing Desk
Here ’s a step - by - step guide to convert your current desk into a standing one without needing to plug it in and drive a button or manually crank up a lever tumbler . Keep in mind that depend on your height and comfort point , you most likely will need to put the proctor and keyboard on disjoined levels . If you use two screens , be sure to consider that when measuring for and design your DIY standing desk .
Step 1: Determine the Correct Height
One of the most pregnant benefits of standing at your desk is ease the strain on your back , neck , and shoulders from accomplish for your keyboard and mouse . You mustget the correct measurementsfor your monitor and keyboard height ; otherwise , you might inadvertently cause more hurting .
First , your screen should ideally be at eye stratum . If it sits slightly below , that ’s OK , but it should never sit higher so that you involve to tilt your head up . Stand at your current desk and measure vertically from the tabletop to your optic level . This measurement will give you the right meridian for your monitor riser main .
Unless your branch are well-heeled at that same spirit level , you ’ll demand to measure for a second , lower riser forthe keyboardand black eye . The good situation for your elbows should be at a 90 - degree angle so that your forearm and wrists are parallel to the floor . Again , take the tape measure and appraise vertically from the top of your desk to where your elbows soil well while standing , giving you the summit for your second riser pipe .
Step 2: Choose Your Risers
This is where you get to be wily and , potentially , very thrifty . you’re able to habituate a hoi polloi of items as your risers , but it ’s important to remember that they should be sturdy . Here are a few of our favorite idea .
Cardboard Boxes
ensure that the composition board box seat are the right width , deepness , and height for both of your riser , and reward them with special tape . you could also go the extra step of gluing strips of composition board inside the boxes to make them more stable , and we recommend using Mod Podge anda pretty wallpaperor wrapping paper to cover up the outside of them . delay that your new riser seat flat on the desk so they do n’t transfer when you type . They ’ll be light and leisurely to remove when you ’re ready to give to sitting .
Two-Tier Step Stool
If the height of a small measure toilet , include the difference of opinion between the top and bottom footstep , is on the mark with your call for mensuration , you may try on using one to create a standing desk ! control there ’s enough surface space for the proctor on the top step and the keyboard on the bottom . mention that you may not have enough breadth for a mouse inking pad with this method , but using a reckoner or keyboard with a built - in touchpad should work . Also , be aware of steps with adhesive friction on them — although they ’re right for your feet , they ’ll keep your computer and keyboard from laying 2-dimensional .
Shoe Racks
To make your screen the correct height , you may need atwo - grade shoe rack . However , you’re able to employ the bottom shelf toorganize office supplying on your desk . A individual horseshoe wrack ( at the correct height ) can be placed straight in front of it for your keyboard and mouse to sit on . If you strain this method , avoid skid racks made with mesh or one that have open slots .
Lap Desk and a Monitor Riser
If you have a lap desk that is the right tallness for a keyboard ( or one that you’re able to align ) , merely add a slim reminder riser pipeline to the rear for your screenland , piss trusted it encounter your bank line of sight when standing .
Side Table and Shelf
This route requires a chip more handiwork , but we think in you ! As many DIY pros know , there are plenty of mode tohack IKEA furniture . amazingly , IKEA ’s Lack side mesa serves as a proper height for monitors when on top of your current desk . If it work for your eye degree , the next step is to secure one of their Lack shelves to the front tabular array legs using a pair of bracket . This should provide enough elbow room for your keyboard and creep to sit at a comfortable height .
Step 3: Place Risers at the Right Distance
Once you ’ve decide which method works best for you , adjust the riser pipe to the best aloofness for stand and act . Your cover should be rough an arm ’s distance away from your eyes to prevent unnecessary strain on them . localise the keyboard and sneak below and in front of the monitor so that your arms are relaxed and your elbow can stay close to your body .
The second most crucial factor is the sturdiness of the riser main . stiffen any wooden leg so they are n’t wonky , and be aware of how severely you ’re type so everything rest in place . you’re able to even secure your homemade riser to the top of your desk so they stay put . But if you want to sit and work , we highly suggest skipping this step so you may easy remove the riser pipe when take .
More Ways to Create a Makeshift Standing Desk
If you ’re not the DIY type or the above hacker do n’t appeal to you , do n’t emphasise . There are more ways you could stand while you work that do n’t require as much ingeniousness .
