"Office of the Future"

[cormac]

I started an experiment today at work, based on the research of Dr. James Levine at the Mayo Clinic. His experiment, which has been declared an astonishing success, is called The Office of the Future. Since I don't have the same resources (most notably, a treadmill) I resolved to try standing, and marking time when my legs started to fatigue from standing in one place.

I raised my monitor, keyboard, trackball mouse and work material about a foot higher, placing it at approximately the height that would be ergonomically correct for standing. So far, it's going well, apart from the odd stares from my co-workers as my head is the only one sticking up out of the cube farm. I'm going to try this for a week, and see what happens.

Comments

[aliskye.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting. Let us know how it goes.

[lady_songsmith]

Interesting. I'm of two minds about this "Office of the Future" concept. On the one hand, it sounds terrific for getting sendentary people moving. And personally I'd love to "take a meeting" while walking or doing some other physical activity; I think better that way. The open air design of the place also sounds lovely.

On the other hand, some of it seems problematic. For starters, it's difficult to sound professional on the phone while walking, even in place. Think about it; can't you alway tell when the person you're speaking to is moving around? I know I can. Another thing, personally, is that when I'm at work, I'm on my feet nearly the whole day (to say nothing of the up-and-down of kneeling beside desks). So by the time I get home, I want nothing more than to just sit for a change, which is a strike against taking an exercise class in the evenings... thus being on my feet all day is probably resulting in my getting less exercise. Of course, I don't work in an office.

[lady_songsmith]

... why is it you always spot your typos the instant after you click 'post'? *headdesk*

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Of course, I don't work in an office.
And therein lies the difference. If I were on my feet all day, up and down at desks, etc. I wouldn't want to exercise either. However, working in an office is extremely bad if you're trying to lose weight. If Levine's calculations are correct, walking at 1 mph x 10 hrs/day = -50 lbs./yr, all other variables remaining the same. It probably won't be nearly that drastic, but any exercise is better than none, and it's multitasking, which in the business world is a Very Good Thing (tm).

Besides, if you're the type of person who can't do less than two things at once, and you're a habitual bored eater, like myself, this will give you enough activity that you won't be as easily bored, and reaching for the M&M's or Doritos.

As for the phone, I got nothing.

[lady_songsmith]

As for the habitual bored eater, keep a full water bottle at your desk. If you can't stand drinking plain water, get an unsweetened flavored seltzer or similar. Most people don't drink nearly enough water, anyway, and it's filling, and it'll keep your hand and mouth busy.

[aliskye.livejournal.com]

Bring in some non-fattening snack foods. Carrots, celery, radishes, crunchy things.

[aliskye.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking that if one got enough exercise at work, then one wouldn't need to take the exercise class in the evening. On the other hand, I totally agree with you, that walking around might impact the quality of work for a lot of things. Typing on a computer while walking on a treadmill? Really concentrating on the something written while walking on a treadmill? I've tried reading while sitting on an exercise bike and I'll I could manage was total fluff....I couldn't read anything I really had to think about.

[lady_songsmith]

Weight-wise, no, but pacing around in front of a whiteboard, while burning calories, does nothing for your cardio. :)

Ditto on the fluff; I couldn't read for class and work on the bike or climber. I really, really like the "pedeconferencing" (to steal a term from West Wing fandom), though!

Free PG&E

[sevenleafclover.livejournal.com]

better yet, they should build the work desks into stationary bikes which you HAVE to petal. the bikes generate the electricity to power the computers, telephones, and over head lights...
if someone calls in sick? then everyone else will just have to peddle faster!
Mwahaha!!!
;P