Less computer, more standing

For five years I've lived online. My job required me to be on the computer for 10+ hours a day. My employer wouldn't put in a standing desk without a doctor's note, and it was more of a pain to try and get in to see a doctor than seemed worth it. Plus I already had to deal with co-worker envy and a standing desk would have made it worse.

My last month of pregnancy I was put on bed rest due to complications from high blood pressure and other issues; I spent the time surfing the web, terrifying myself with what could go wrong with baby, finding new recipes to try once I could handle being back on my feet, ordering books and baby cloths, just having a grand time...but still on the computer for hours on end.

Fast forward, baby's born and I can't handle putting her down (and after a while she'd cry if I did), the three slings we'd bought were either too big or two small and, finally I got where I would sit or lay next to her all day long. During the long hours while she slept peacefully in my arms I would surf the web one-handed. After all, there are only so many sleeping baby pictures to take, and so many hours of staring at sleeping baby before the attention wanders.

Do you see a habit? Oh yeah, I have a computer addiction. A bad one. On top of that I have low back pain, hip pain and an almost inability to bend and flex. All these years of sitting have done a number on the bod, and its time to take it back!!

This morning I traumatized the poor, cheap wood bookshelf that sits in our den. Moved shelves around, drilled holes, moved books to other places in the house and ta-da!!! A standing desk! The laptop sits at a perfect height for my hands, though I have to look down at the screen. Already I'm noticing some aches and pains in my legs and hips-no doubt the bod is starting to unkink from years of sitting for so long.

It's only been half a day but I've already noticed I'm avoiding the computer. I still fulfill my surfing addiction, and those Farmville animals need fed, but once I'm done I don't sit mindlessly surfing news articles or eBay or any of the other sites I'd go to, just to kill time waiting for kiddo to wake from a nap, or trying not to interrupt her intense independent play.

While I can't say I'll give up internet completely, and with school I can't give up the computer, I can say I've started to drastically reduce the time spent staring at the glowing screen, which will no doubt improve my health in the long run.

Now for some couch stretches!
Don't Go in the Pain Cave