Standing Desk, Standing Tall: My Journey to Control and Creativity
Can a standing desk transform our workday, boost energy, add creativity, and give us some control back in our day? Here are my thoughts on it.
This article was originally published in 2013, and has been republished in 2025.
I finally set up a standing desk, thanks to a ton of help from Jon over at Business Casual. Four days in, and I’ve already logged 32 hours standing at it—8 hours a day! I know that might make some people cringe (if anyone’s reading this), but honestly, I love it. Sitting all day has always been a challenge for me. My mind works best when I’m in motion; ideas flow more freely when I’m physically engaged. Now, I find myself coming in early, staying late, and just plain excited to stand at my new “spaceship” and churn out what feels like pure gold.*When I worked full-time at Claims Compensation Bureau, I used to joke that I should get paid for my lunch walks. But there was truth in the joke. Whenever I hit a snag—a complex process or a problem with too many moving parts—I’d take a walk. Nine times out of ten, I’d come back with an elegant solution, eager to implement it… only to feel stifled sitting back down at my desk.
So why does standing—and moving—make me feel so energized and motivated? One reason, I think, is control. Before you roll your eyes and label me a control freak, hear me out. Every one of us has a basic need for control—over something in our lives. It’s what keeps us from feeling like everything is spiraling out of control. By building my workspace exactly how I wanted it—with the tools and setup that work for me—I reclaimed some of that control over my daily environment.
This got me thinking about the connection between control and performance. When was the last time you saw truly talented people thrive under micromanagement? Exactly. Yet many workplaces—corporations, schools, even volunteer organizations—seem obsessed with policies that dictate every detail: how things must be done, when you have to work, which arbitrary markers you need to hit. Does this foster productivity? Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
There’s a stark difference between companies that pretend to be forward-thinking (e.g., “We offer yoga during your 15-minute break! But don’t be late getting back or else…”), versus those that are genuinely proactive (e.g., “You’re most productive from 6 PM to 3 AM? Let’s get you VPN access so you can work when you’re at your best.”). The latter approach empowers people by giving them autonomy—the freedom to control how they work best.As Sam Glenn wisely said, “The goal of positive leadership is to find ways to bring out the best version of the people working for the company.”
For me, building this standing desk wasn’t just about ergonomics or productivity hacks—it was about creating a space where I feel in control and inspired. And yes, I’ve fallen back into the coding rabbit hole while standing here. Recognizing when you’re off course is the first step… right?
*Yup, still loving this spaceship vibe!