Holy moly virtue signalling
I’ve not smoked (or vaped) since turning 30 in 1995 and I’ve not touched alcohol since December 2016, yet my life is medically imperilled, it would seem, by my job. I write, manage social media and design websites. All whilst sitting. That’s bad.
Sitting for long periods of time is medically recognised as causing obesity, heart disease and strokes. Although I walk Cassie, my dog for 4 to 5km daily, I do spend most of my days and evenings lounged in front of a computer. I’ve recently started nudging 16 stone and my girth has expanded like my home office tech, so I decided it was time for action: an electric sit-stand desk.
Now the saga of sourcing and acquiring this standing desk has run for nearly as long as Coronation Street, but I didn’t give up hope in the face of delays from importing from Holland due to Brexit. I showed the Little Britain bulldog spirit and moaned about it constantly.
Because so many are working from home now and have got the taste for it, home office furniture and tech is in short supply. Don’t believe me? You google Apple refurbished and see the derisory choice of iPads, MacBooks and iMacs in a short list that, pre-pandemic, ran to 10 pages. Search for a standing desk and see the wait. Ditto office chairs. You get the idea.
My choices then were limited as demand is high and supply is low so the Fellowes Levada electric desk with walnut veneered surface took a month to arrive. The friendly Dutch chap who delivered it was delighted with access on the estate for delivery. I was impressed too that he was wearing clogs (with socks) in snow.
I bought the desk as it is practically assembled. You fold the legs out, click them into place, attach clamps and the motion control pad and it’s almost ready. It does need the tabletop screwing in, but this was a cinch too.
So what do I think of the standing desk?
Tis good. I have got in a routine of standing and working for a set period of time for 1 hour. My iPhone goes on Airplane mode. Email apps and social media channels are closed and I ask Siri to time 60 minutes. I was flattered too to see Harrison Kauffman from Manchester produce a brilliant video and a shout out to this way of working. You can see it on Linkedin here.
It’s too early yet to report on weight loss, but I do feel more productive, with fewer back and neck pains for standing as part of my work.
I’ve programmed two settings and it’s easy to switch between the two.
Herman Miller Mirra 2
Once I’d invested in a desk, my wonderful Kab Controller chair began to look like the ugly duckling of the office. I stuck it on eBay and it sold immediately so I needed a bougie chair. I watch Justin Tse and the like on YouTube to get sheeple ideas on desk set ups and I knew that a Herman Miller Aeron Size C or a Mirra 2 was the way to go. They’re not cheap by any means, but, like the Kab second hand, they do hold their value so I knew it was a no brainer.
Getting one was much easier too. Quick Google search yielded an excellent firm in nearby Norwich who had the Mirra 2 and Aeron C in stock so I bought one and received it quickly.
This is a beautiful office chair and I was delighted to spot on social media last night that Joe Biden has one.
His office isn’t a patch on mine though! But I do admire his politics and Herman Miller Mirra 2 chair.
What next?
I think everything is fine and dandy now. I have new IKEA Fjallbo units, and shelves, an IKEA pegboard, new office plants, a fixed floor and rug and a tech set up to die for.
A Dell monitor on an arm, a Mac mini M1, dual full fat HomePods, a Logitech mouse and keyboard (both brilliant) and my MacBook Pro 16 i9 propped on a Twelve South stand.
I’ve not invested so heavily in kit and design to show off – all has functionality and, given that I sit and stand for 8 hours or more in the Get Pro Copy home office, I need it to be a place that inspires me and shows clients I can be trusted with their content marketing, social media and web design.
I’m chuffed with every aspect – though I must admit a pair of Space Grey AirPods Max would look great in the set up.
Perhaps if I get leads from this post, I can order some?
Make my day then and see what I can do to grow your business – just as I have with my business and many others too.
