No, I did not have a baby. I did something much easier and less painful; I purchased a new piece of office equipment.
Last year, I read an article from Men’s Health on the health hazards of sitting at your desk all day (link below). Since then, I have been looking for the perfect way to work while standing when I get tired of sitting. The task has not been easy. I did not want to totally convert to a standing desk; I did not want to spend a lot of money; I did want it to look nice; and I did need it to fit in a certain space.
Over the past year, I have looked at office furniture stores, IKEA, office supply stores, regular furniture stores and anywhere else that might have the perfect standing desk. I had almost given up and decided on a laptop caddy with adjustable height, but I really wanted something with more desktop space.
Then, my mom went into the hospital for an extended stay. While trying to work from my laptop in her hospital room, I decided to use the over the bed table/tray as a desk. After sitting for hours, I stood up, adjusted the height of the tray and continued to work. Lightbulb moment! It was perfect.
I looked into some medical supply companies online and found just what I was looking for. The size was right; the price was right (around $70 from Drive Medical).
I suppose it is fitting that a piece of office equipment I wanted for health reasons came from a medical supply company. Sometimes it pays to think outside the box.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39523298/ns/health-mens_health/t/why-your-desk-job-slowly-killing-you/
Update to Post:
A new study published in November 2011 shows that breast cancer and colon cancer may be linked to prolonged sitting.
Misty, I knew as soon as I laid eyes on the photo that it was hospital equipment, having spent so much time in hospital rooms with my youngest daughter (last weekend in fact). What a great idea!
Oh Lynne, I am sorry you guys have spent so much time in hospital rooms. You are an expert in more than just paralegalism.