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12 May 2017
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Q. Any thoughts on the use of standing desks in the workplace?

A. It's not good to be sitting down all the time. Many of the new fitness gadgets, like the Apple Watch and Fitbits will
alert you when they believe you are inactive over a period of time. GPs are likely to be sitting down for much of their working day: commuting by car and sitting for patient consultations. We all know that routine work such as checking results, writing referrals and letters, mostly on the computer, is an increasing burden in general practice. You can turn this into a healthier option by using a standing desk for your non-consulting work time. A standing desk is a piece of furniture that sits on a conventional desk or work surface. It holds your computer monitor, keyboard and mouse on a stand that can be raised and lowered easily. This gives you the option of standing or sitting when you are working at your computer. You can raise or lower your work position in seconds, without any disruption to cables or wires.

I have been using a standing desk since December 2016, purchased from www.varidesk.com On the Varidesk website you need to choose the option of Europe and then you can view photos and videos of the different models and get the cost in euro. They ship free to European addresses. Be careful about the measurements to ensure your choice will fit on the desk or worktop surface area you have available. The standing desks are large and heavy. And they are expensive. There are cheaper options available, including, I think, from Ikea, but I don't have any experience of other brands.

Four months on, I rarely sit at my computer. It becomes second nature to read, think and type while standing. My posture has improved and I am less tired at the end of the day. I sit down only for teleconferences and telephone conversations, and if I am reading a printed document. So, do some research, look at reviews for different brands, and consider buying yourself an early, or late, birthday present.