A standing desk made me better at gaming – an unscientific study


The advantages of a standing desk have been the topic of 1,000,000+ suppose items, op-eds, and sponsored posts ever since we collectively determined to say ‘nah’ to the standard workplace area and start working from residence as an alternative. Regardless of what the company sector and their panicking landlords would have you ever imagine, the newly-emancipated residence employee is an effective factor. I save the higher a part of £100 per thirty days from not commuting, I get to spend extra time with my canine, I’ve extra time for self-care and train now that about two hours of my day aren’t spent on the tube, and my food regimen has by no means been higher.

However an excellent residence workplace setup is important if you wish to keep a wholesome work/life stability. My workplace is in my bed room – but it surely’s sectioned off properly, so it permits some separation of ‘church and state’, so to talk. However, should you’re studying this on a specialist gaming web site, that seemingly signifies that you’re a gamer. And sometimes, a gamer’s work and workplace area combines. With that in thoughts, let me inform you, a standing desk is transformative.

My modest little setup.

The desk I’m utilizing is the Standing Desk Premium Collection E8 (a pattern of which was kindly offered by FlexiSpot). After studying Alex going off about this desk, I needed one completely for work functions; I’d edit and do my admin when standing, and write when sitting. Good and easy; good for my again, more healthy, and a refreshing change once I must professionally ‘change modes’, so to talk. However a buddy instructed me that they’d been utilizing a standing desk for gaming, so I believed ‘why not?’, hit the straightforward button that I’d pre-registered to my excellent peak, and began enjoying. I’m going to interrupt this down into sections to make it simpler to digest.

MULTIPLAYER

A variable peak desk is good for combating video games on the correct {hardware}.

First up, I attempted some Avenue Fighter 6. Would you imagine me if I instructed you that it made me immediately higher? As a result of it did. One thing about my monitor being at eye-height while I’m standing, with my fingers in a position to relaxation completely on my struggle stick at excellent elbow peak… it was all mixed to permit me to get mixtures out faster and extra reliably. It elicits the sensation of being in an arcade – all of the proportions are right – and never being hunched over and sat down feels prefer it opens me up, and sharpens my instincts considerably.

I even examined it: sitting, I can carry out a few of the more durable Cammy combos in my technical oeuvre with about 60% consistency. Standing, it’s nearer to 70%. Not a giant distinction, however a noticeable sufficient one relating to the crunch. My greatest ranked streak sitting, up so far, was eight wins. Now, standing, my greatest streak is 12. I may very nicely be simply getting higher, usually, however I really feel like I play higher standing. A lot in order that that is now my default approach to play – I’ve my Xbox Collection S hooked as much as my work monitor, even, now divorced from its long-time residence within the lounge.

SINGLE-PLAYER

A whole lot of my single-player gaming is finished in titles that go well with fast, brief periods – wrapping up the missions in Sonic Origins Plus, going a spherical or two of Hades, a run or two of Rogue Legacy, or grinding out some ranges in no matter silly RPG I’m obsessive about on the minute. That’s the sample of my gaming. I can’t actually say at this level whether or not the standing desk has made me any higher at these video games, however I can inform you I’m noticing the influence on my every day well being targets.

Variable peak management is all achieved through this snazzy module.

Enjoying one thing like Vampire Survivors (a ‘day’ in that recreation lasts 30 real-world minutes) is ideal when standing; it’s a fast burst of exercise that will get you out of your seat, helps enhance your posture, and will get the blood circulating. In case you transfer round a bit while enjoying (I do), you’ll get a simple 5/600 steps added to your every day whole per half-hour performed – extra should you’re leaping round like an fool within the ultimate few seconds of a very epic Vampire Survivors run.

I additionally performed a good quantity of Ultimate Fantasy 16 while standing; the convenience of which you’ll be able to increase and decrease the desk means that you could stand for the boring, definitely-not-filler-I-promise RPG bits which were crammed into the sport like roofing insulation after which sit down to actually soak within the unimaginable motion of the boss fights and cinematics. Once more, having this feature could not make you higher on the recreation, but it surely definitely makes you recognize the massive payoffs once they come.

CO-OP

I haven’t performed too many co-op video games since getting my standing desk, however one fixed in my life is all the time going to be Monster Hunter. I personal Rise/Sunbreak on my Change, PC, and Xbox in the intervening time, and – within the curiosity of barely credible science – I believed I’d check out some co-op gaming while standing. Seems, being on my toes for Monster Hunter makes me higher on the recreation. Equally to what I used to be saying about Avenue Fighter, it makes me extra reactive; a few of my buddies would whoop and holler once I managed to dodge a Magnamalo’s large tail swoop,m with one body to spare after which come and crack my protect on its noggin.

I attempted a little bit of co-op Elden Ring while standing, too. One thing about actually focusing and remaining inventory nonetheless, in your toes, felt prefer it gave me higher focus. I’ve ADHD, so having a number of small issues to give attention to without delay truly helps me focus, quite focusing higher when all my consideration is one factor. So standing (probably jogging on the spot) and taking over Malenia – it labored a deal with for me. Obtained certainly one of my buddies previous a hurdle they’d been battling for some time, no much less. All brains differ, after all, however I believe I’ll strive numerous my boss battles while standing from right here on out.

Chair for scale.

So, a standing desk is genuinely a game-changer for work and play. I believed it could simply assist me differentiate two very totally different components of my job, but it surely’s truly boosted my means – and my enjoyment – of enjoying video games. I believed all these puff items you learn on-line in regards to the smooth advantages of getting a standing desk have been simply that – puff items. However, it seems, all these tabloid journalists and Search engine marketing-trained commerce writers could have been on to one thing in any case.


FlexiSpot’s E7 Standing Desk begins at £420, however till the tip of this month you may apply the code “JUNE7” at checkout to obtain a £120 low cost, making it simply £300. You may order a desktop to go together with it. The most cost effective 120x60cm desktop prices £80 (and the body suits desktops as much as 180x80cm).

Within the US, the FlexiSpot’s E7 Standing Desk begins from $320 (was $500) for the body, with desktop choices starting from $80 for chipboard as much as $200 for strong wooden.