From Amazon Carts to Office Hacks: How a DIY Standing Desk Changed My Day

Some of you already have standing desks, which is great! Others have them but don’t use them, and some of you just aren't sure if it’s a viable option.

This morning, I had a brainwave. I’m spending more time in the office lately, and I’m sitting more than I ever have before. I realised I needed a standing desk. But just seconds before I was about to hit "buy" on Amazon, it occurred to me: I could quickly make my own—or at least try to.

Fortunately for me, the chair in my PT office and my desk work as a perfect partnership to create a DIY standing desk. Not only that, I have a nifty little stick-on gadget on the back of my MacBook that allows me to tilt and change the angle of my laptop. In just the short timeframe I've been using this new setup, I’ve noticed my habits changing for the better—especially regarding weight management.

The Power of the Pacing

The first positive? I’m on my feet. But it's not just the standing; I’m finding that as I speak this out through dictation, I’m actually pacing around the room. That means my step count is going up way more than it would if I were seated.

Using Pain as a Prompt

After a while, I started to notice some lower back discomfort. Now, that’s not abnormal for me—I have an anterior pelvic tilt, super tight hip flexors, and even tighter hamstrings. Initially, I did what most of us naturally do: I felt uncomfortable, so I decided to sit down.

But moments later, I decided to stand back up.

The discomfort is there for a reason. Now, I'm using that signal as an opportunity to stretch. My desk is the perfect height for me to stretch and load my glutes (which I know can get tight and contribute to that back pain). I also stretched my hip flexors using a movement I’ve recently introduced to many people’s gym routines. Using pain as a "prompt" hasn't just allowed me to temporarily move the sensation; it’s encouraged me to introduce exercises I normally wouldn’t have done, making for a much more productive hour.

Creative Flow and the "Side Quest"

I’m also finding it a lot easier for ideas to come to mind. That could be circumstantial, but I feel more "primed" for work than if I were sitting down. My scatterbrain—which loves to jump from task to task—has had a little bit more focus. Even this very blog post is a "side quest," but I’m working through it faster so I can get it directly to you guys.

Why am I telling you this?

Was this post designed to get you to buy a standing desk? (If I still had my Amazon affiliate links, maybe!) But really, it’s about two things:

1. Creativity and Impulse When your brain has an idea, find ways to implement it immediately. Following through on that impulse is benefiting me right now. I’m hoping to stick to this as a new tradition for working, but even if that changes, the act of creating was worth it.

2. The Habit Sequence It’s amazing how you can create a sequence of new habits from one small change—even using a large object like a chair. Without standing, I wouldn’t have noticed my lower back tightness until much later in the day. By then, it's too late; I’d be too tired to do anything about it.

By starting my morning with a chair on my desk, I’ve created a "response method." Every time I feel discomfort, I fix the state my body has found itself in. If I do this every working day, my body won't feel that pain quite as frequently.

Let's be honest: having chronic discomfort isn't something we favour. Strength training in the gym helps a lot, but when you spend 8 to 10 hours in a fixed position, it isn't beneficial—whether you're standing or sitting. Your body is made to move, flow, and be adaptable. When you give it the same stagnant information all day, it just gets better at making you feel worse.

My hope is that this helps you do two things:

• Be a bit more impulsive and creative when an idea strikes.

• Look at how you can reroute your current habits to benefit your future self.