Even if you average an hour of exercise a day, which is
roughly what I get, you are spending a lot of time not exercising. If you work
at a desk or are a writer like myself, you spend a lot of that time sitting
down. With so many reports calling
sitting the new smoking, that’s a bad thing.
When I first moved to Portland, I was selling a few of my items
I didn’t need anymore. One was a large dresser.
While I was waiting for the purchaser to come and get it (it took a few
days) I had placed my laptop on the top of the dresser. I would stand there and do work while I set
up the rest of my loft. I found I actually enjoyed standing while I wrote. The
buyer came and took the dresser away. I
tried to recreate it with a homemade version.
That didn’t work too well. Then I
tried a semi-desk but it was neither tall enough nor sturdy enough. To some
extent I gave up. I bought a desk, and a chair and resigned to just sitting.
Quite some time ago, I heard of the product Varidesk. Then I
stayed with a friend who had one and I used it for a few hours. I had to get my
own. Which I did. I am now the proud
owner of the Varidesk Single (pictured to the right). After using it for a few weeks, I wanted to give
you my thoughts on how it worked for me.
Whenever I go to write a review of something I usually go
online to see what other people have said. More specifically, I look at the
most negative comments. I want to see what potentially could be the worst
aspects of a product. I then compare them to my own experience and make a
combination of what I like and what I may not like down the road. Here is what
I came up with.
First and foremost, there is no assembly required with the
Single (I don’t know about the others.). Pulling it out of the box, setting it
on my existing desk and beginning to use it in ten seconds was just
wonderful.
I am 6’1’’ and therefore a little on the tall side. I can see how the VariDesk might be
considered a little too short for people my height and above. Then again, we have spent the vast majority
of our working life with a monitor at eye level or higher. Who is to say that
is the right height? But yes, looking
down at the screen could possibly get a little tiring. So be it. It hasn’t
bothered me so far. (And, in hindsight, can you blame the VariDesk if it does
not go high enough? Maybe the desk it is sitting on isn’t high enough to begin
with.)
When the desk is in the down position, and you are sitting (yes,
I occasionally sit down as well when using it), it is a little high. If this
bothered me at all, I would simply keep the desk in the upright position and move
my laptop under the desk. It was like it
was in its own little cave. Problem solved.
That’s about it when it comes to complaints. I feel there is
ample room for a mouse and a mousepad, a few things plugged into the other
side, and in this case, all the accoutrements I happened to have on my desk
when I was typing this review. It is
easy to move from the up to down position and back again. While it is a tad
heavy, it is still sleek and cool looking.
Best of all, I know I am doing something better for my health for the
hours I spend writing. It also makes it much easier to dance while I type. I have moves like Jagger, FYI.
For anyone looking to get one of these, I would highly
suggest you also get one of the mats they all sell on the website. It is extremely
comfortable on your feet. Chances are you aren’t used to being on your feet and
even in comfy shoes, you will need a little cushion. It is worth the investment.
As a runner who writes, this has been one of the best self-gifts
I have ever given to, well, myself. My recommendation would be to not wait as long as I did and get yourself one ASAP.
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