Did you know that a standing desk could improve your writing, in addition to adding years to your life? According to the Journal of Physical Health and Activity, standing can decrease your likelihood of developing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. These findings are especially important in a profession where we sit a lot. Whether you’re a full-time writer or fitting in some time after your day job, there are major benefits to standing while you write.
We’ll all seen the iconic photos of writers at their desks, and we know that logging that time is incredibly important to the writing process. Standing can help you to be more productive whether you put a pen to paper or type up your stories. And an ergonomic option can boost your writing career. A new perspective at the desk leads to new ideas, enhanced writing habits, and new stories.
Improve concentration and focus
As you stand to write, you engage your whole body and are compelled to think differently. Standing requires a certain concentration that heightens your awareness of yourself and your posture. Additionally, increased movement throughout the day can benefit you both physically and in your writing. Whether or not you start doing squats at your desk or take a quick walk to refresh your mind, being aware of your body will allow you to be more alert on the page. You can work more quickly and intentionally instead of lounging at your computer.
Boost your creativity
With this new perspective, you’ll be inspired to think differently about more than how you write, but what you write. A study in the Social Psychological and Personality Science Journal found that those who worked on projects in non-sitting workplaces experienced more engagement with the project. With your intentionality of standing, new ideas will permeate your consciousness as you explore concepts and storylines to improve your stories, poems, articles, whatever you’re working on. When you have an intensified purpose of being at your desk, you’ll feel more creative and the words will flow onto the page.
Energize your writing
In addition to being more aware of your body and surroundings, standing prevents that writing slump or momentary writer’s block that many writers have experienced. In addition to improving your focus, you’ll have more energy to tackle the hard work of writing, which often includes revision. You may opt to walk around with drafts, reading aloud to revise or call a friend to discuss the latest chapter. The purposeful choice to stand will invigorate your writing, your revision, and allow you to accomplish more on the page and in your career.
Not all great story ideas are born at a desk, but with a standing desk you can move more freely and create productive concepts that meet your writing goals.
| Jane is a freelance writer and editor. She has written for both digital and print across a wide variety of fields. Her main interest is exploring how people can improve their health and well being in their everyday life. And when she isn’t writing, Jane can often be found with her nose in a good book, at the gym or just spending quality time with her family. |