Tag Archives: health

My Prototype Standing desk

Standing desk prototype by Theodore Tollefson

This is a prototype standing desk that I made

Sitting all day was becoming a real pain: bad posture, occasional back pain (when I stayed too focused too long), and general feelings of sedentariness. When I learned that it was likely horrible for my health, if not fatal, I decided to do something about it.

This is my prototype standing desk. It goes on top of my regular desk, but I plan to make a taller one that stands on the floor once I have the ergonomics tuned. This desk is made from lumber, wood screws, and lag bolts I already had. The next version might be prettier.

Then again, I hate wobbly furniture. This thing isn’t wobbly at all. Maybe I’ll stick with the same general specs.

Quitting #4: Strike at Pressure Points

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Jiu-Jitsu for Women — George Eastman House on Flickr Commons

Sometimes the thing you want to quit seems like a vein that ramifies throughout a huge part of your life, and influences many behaviors. It can feel impossible to root out every list bit of it.

Maybe it will be, but I doubt it. People overestimate what they can do in the short term, and underestimate what they can do in the long term. You don’t need to instantly succeed to reap significant benefits.

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Quitting #3: Choose Your Scale of Focus

Quitting #1: Start with the Heart

Step One: Start with the Heart

First, and most important, start with the heart of the matter. You’ll probably have to use some rules, but success is not defined as having the best rules (whatever that might mean). If you want to quit something, it’s probably because of the repercussions. Your desired goal is the heart of the matter. Any rules you adopt will matter only to the extent that they help.

A Couple Pitfalls

Unidentified baseball player in dark uniform - batting form - Flickr Commons

Unidentified baseball player in dark uniform — batting form — New York Public Library on Flickr Commons

Thorough knowledge of every relevant discipline is not a prerequisite for success. Great baseball players might have a pretty rudimentary understanding of physics, and this is about playing hardball with frustrating habits, not about waxing eloquent on the relevant theories. Keep reminding yourself, it’s about getting to the goal. The habit is in the way, that’s all. Understand enough to beat it.