Need a Quick and Easy Adjustable Standing Desk?

As a blogger, a teacher, and running two websites, I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer.  In our society most of us do, and it has probably crossed most people’s minds at one time or another that a standing desk might be a good alternative.  Well, did you know that as a musician, you might already own the perfect standing desk?

I really love blogging and running SmartMusicTeacher and Virtuoso, but as much as I love what I am doing, the one thing I don’t like is always being stuck at my desk.  Just the other day, I was mentioning to a friend that this part of my life would be perfect if only I could be more active doing it.

Earlier in the year, I looked into standing desks.  I discovered that they are quite expensive, too big for my space, and would require getting rid of the desk I love in exchange for one that has no drawers.   I also discovered products that sit on your existing desk, but not without taking up valuable space and reducing your work area.  I tried to think of an easy and economical home made alternative but to no avail.  Then the perfect solution came to me while at school….

Yesterday a student came in for extra help.  I left him to work away at his theory worksheets and came back to find him using his music stand as a desk, which is not unusual.  What was unusual was that he was standing up.  Out of curiosity, I asked him why he was standing.  He explained that he always stands up to do his homework at home because he doesn’t like sitting all day.  Then I realized, my music stand at home is the perfect customizable standing desk!  I couldn’t wait to get home and try it.

Above is a picture of my new set-up with my Manhasset music stand.  I am loving it because:

• I can fit my keyboard and mouse on my stand.
• I still have all my desk space to work with.
• The stand can prop up a notebook.
• I can customize the height.  I actually have it quite low, so that my wrist stays straight when using the mouse, which prevents wrist strain.
• The Manhassets have ridges near the top that keep my keyboard from slipping.
• I can angle the stand to make the keyboard more comfortable and the keyboard doesn’t slide off.
• My monitor also angles up enough so that I don’t have to raise it.
• When I want to sit down, I just lower the stand.
• When I want to use my music stand for music, I just put the keyboard and mouse back on the desk.
• It is so easy to alternate between standing and sitting, which is the best way to use a standing desk.

This is freeing up my legs to do stretches, jumping jacks, bends, etc., whenever I’m browsing or reading.  And instead of sitting, I could practice the Mighty Pose instead, ha, ha.  Seriously, I am finding that just the act of standing makes me feel like moving around more and taking more breaks.  In fact, I’m doing knee lifts as I’m proof-reading this….

A music stand could also make a great standing laptop desk too.  And it’s perfectly portable.  Talk about a multi-functional low-tech device!

Hmmm….  I wonder if I could fit a mini-trampoline under it?

Enjoy your active desk time!