Using an adjustable height desk at work has given me a more active lifestyle.

In previous posts we’ve given you a lot of information about the Xdesk adjustable height desk. We’ve told you how they are made, a bit of history on the standing desk, how they can help improve your health, and how the Xdesk adjustable height desk can improve the health of the planet as a whole. But these are just facts—unarguable, to be sure—but still, it is just information. So in today’s post, we thought we’d bring you something a bit closer to home: my very own story about my Xdesk ergonomic workstation.

In our first post I briefly introduced myself, but for those of you who might have missed it, let me give you a quick recap. My name is Natalie and I write this blog, not as a Xdesk employee, but as someone who personally uses a Xdesk ergonomic workstation. Seriously.

I call it an “ergonomic workstation,” because to me it is more than an adjustable height desk. My Xdesk has become something of a second home to me—it is a complete workstation, adjusted perfectly to my height and my preferred keyboard position, whether I am standing or sitting. There is plenty of room on this desk’s surface for me to sprawl out all of my notes, my calendar, and yes, snacks, photo frames, and whatever else I bring into the office that day. (Today my ergonomic workstation features a notepad, a cell phone, an empty Tupperware from lunch, two large bottles of water, and my monitor. All very official stuff, you see.)

Since I’ve started working at this job and using the height adjustable desk, I think I have become somewhat spoiled. The desk adjusts perfectly to my height, no matter what kind of shoes I’m wearing that day, and as I mentioned above there is plenty of surface space for anything and everything I need for work. Like coffee.

And when I get tired of standing and move the desk to a seated position, the transition is so smooth, said coffee won’t even spill.

Like I said, a complete ergonomic workstation.

What did I do as soon as I got home from my first day after working on the Xdesk? I tried to create my own standing desk.

I knew it might take some trial and error to create my own perfectly positioned ergonomic workstation in my living room, but I didn’t think it would be impossible. Turns out, it is.

Now when I work from home I place my laptop atop a box which sits on top of a chair, which is precariously balanced on top of my coffee table. It isn’t the best solution—in fact it’s probably a bit dangerous (it’s easy to trip on the computer cord, which is stretched awkwardly to reach the chair)—but after reading all the facts and figures on how bad for you sitting can be, I just couldn’t stand it. Or rather, sit it, I guess.

But the sad truth of the matter is, I couldn’t recreate the ergonomic workstation that the Xdesk provides me. Not only is there absolutely no “desk” surface with my laptop sitting on top of a box, on top of a chair, on top of a table, but there is no way for me to adjust the keyboard to a different height than the monitor.

See, the whole purpose of an ergonomic workstation is to create a healthier, more comfortable position for people at work. And to do this the keyboard needs to be a bit lower than the monitor so that your arms are parallel to the floor and your wrists are slightly angled down. Clearly with my setup at home I can’t do this.

So until I get a Xdesk for my home as well as office, I guess I will just be resigned to this awkward, box/chair/table setup.

Do you have a “creative” ergonomic workstation at home? How did you make it?

A few quotes on health will inspire anyone to keep standing.

In our last posts we told you about why choosing a Xdesk adjustable height desk is a healthy choice, not only for your body, but also for the environment. Today we thought we’d expand a bit on that healthy theme.

Xdesk’s adjustable height desks are created with your health in mind. From the materials used in these sit to stand desks, all the way up the ergonomic design for your unique body. In short, these sit to stand desks are all about health. And so to celebrate that, here are some healthy and active quotes to start your day.

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Xdesk are nontoxic and made from eco-friendly materials.

In our last posts we talked about the standing desk throughout history, and some of the more famous folks who have used them. Today we thought we’d bring you back to the present and focus on the desk itself, namely what goes into it (and what doesn’t!).

Like many things throughout history, ergonomic desks, like the adjustable height desks or standing desks, started out being made with the finest of quality. They used rich and beautifully carved woods and the finest metal for their hinges and levers. But somewhere along the way, someone decided that quantity was worth more than quality, so office furniture took a radical, and even harmful turn.

Of course these days we know that using rich woods like cherry and oak is harmful to the environment, so many manufacturers began making their ergonomic desks with substitutes. Many ergonomic desks today are made with pressed wood and laminates to cut down their impact on the environment (and the cost it takes to manufacture them!) However, in trying to cut back on spending and harming large trees, these manufacturers are ultimately harming you.

Ergonomic desks, or adjustable height desks, made with laminates, veneer, and MDF often contain small amounts of formaldehyde. Ironically, ergonomic desks are specifically designed to be healthful; however, when formaldehyde is even one of the smallest ingredients, the health benefits go out the window. Formaldehyde can aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, irritate mucous membranes, and cause contact dermatitis. Studies on formaldehyde also suggest that it is a likely carcinogen and should be avoided.

Like I said, the whole point of an ergonomic desk is to make you healthier. But with all of the chemicals, many ergonomic desks are not contributing to your health, and could be harming you.

It’s pretty ridiculous, isn’t it? Well, that’s what the people at Xdesk thought anyway. That’s why they don’t use laminates, veneer, or MDF in any of their ergonomic desks. As a matter of fact, they don’t even use solvent-based paints in their design.

With the Xdesk, what you see is what you get. Each of their adjustable height desks are made 100% from bamboo and recycled aluminum—no harmful fillers, paints, or “faux woods.” This is not only beneficial to your body, but to the environment as well.

Unlike the rich, big-tree woods used in the past, bamboo is the fastest growing and most easily replenished wood on the planet. Recycled aluminum is highly sustainable as well. In short, Xdesk’s ergonomic desk is healthy for your body and the planet, from its design down to the very materials they use (and the ones they don’t!).

Be sure to check out our next post where we’ll talk more about the environmental benefits of choosing a Xdesk.

What are your thoughts on formaldehyde use in office furniture? Share them below!

Standing desks were used by some of the greatest minds across the ages.

In the last post we told you about the history of the adjustable height desk and some of the brilliant minds who have been known to use them over the years. But the list of historical figures who have used sit to stand desks or standing desks goes far beyond the few people we mentioned. T

We thought we’d delve a little bit deeper into some of those big names who have helped make the adjustable height desk what it is today. …Read More

The Xdesk’s features and design makes it the most ergonomic desk out there.

In a recent post we went over some of the innumerable benefits of the Xdesk adjustable height desk. Well, since you can’t exactly fit “innumerable” on a page, we had to go with the top ten positives. There is even more ground to cover here, like why the Next Desk’s design is superior to that of other standing desks and adjustable height desks on the market. So that’s what we’ll be discussing today, and since a list is such a tidy way to brag about—I mean discuss—the Xdesk, why not do it again?

…Read More