I Used a Standing Desk for 14 Months. Here's the Honest Report.
Standing more than sitting improved Derek's afternoon focus measurably. It did not fix his back. The chair fixed his back.
The Data Derek Tracked
Derek tracked time standing versus sitting every day for 14 months using a habit tracking app. Month one average: 38 minutes standing per 8-hour workday. Month 14 average: 2 hours 15 minutes standing per 8-hour workday. The increase happened gradually as standing became habitual. The programmable height presets were the primary factor in removing friction — the desk was already at the right height before Derek stood up.
What Changed
Afternoon focus improved noticeably in months where Derek averaged over 90 minutes of standing. Derek attributes this to the physical state change — standing for 20-minute intervals in the early afternoon reduced the cognitive sluggishness that previously required coffee to address. He is not claiming scientific causation. He is reporting a personal observation from 14 months of data.
What Did Not Change
Derek's back pain did not improve from the standing desk. It improved from the Herman Miller Aeron. The back pain was caused by poor sitting posture in a bad chair, not from standing too little. This is important: if you have back pain from working, audit your chair before buying a standing desk. Derek bought the standing desk first. The chair fixed the actual problem.
The Realistic Usage Pattern
Most people who purchase a standing desk use it less than they expect to. Derek expected to split his workday 50/50 between sitting and standing. His actual pattern is closer to 75/25 in favor of sitting. That is still more standing than he did without the desk. The 25% standing is worthwhile. The 50% expectation was unrealistic. Set expectations accordingly before purchasing.