I mentioned in a prior post that I am trying to spend less time sitting because sitting is associated with the development of health problems. Lately, I have been standing at work meetings. I first learned of this possibility years ago when I read an article about a group of physicians who stand at meetings for the purpose of keeping meetings short.
Several weeks ago I started standing during parts of meetings. I explained to others my health-related goal in each group. I felt deviant initially, but I gradually habituated to standing and at present I stand throughout almost every meeting. Sometimes others stand also for a short while — that never happened before. Their change in behavior suggests that my model is affecting them in a positive way.
I suspect that psychologically my comments at meetings may now have slightly greater impact simply because the others literally look up to me. Who usually stands at one kind of meeting or another, after all? A teacher, a priest, a coach, a celebrity, a leader.
Although I started gradually out of self-consciousness, the gradual approach may have helped me build the strength needed to stand for long periods. Initially, I often leaned on a wall for partial support. Now I do that less. My personal experiences tell me that standing is a good workout for the body. My longest standing meeting to date lasted three hours on a Friday afternoon.
I am not aware of any negative reactions of others to my standing at meetings, but I would guess there are some because I am doing something not currently in the script for meeting attendees. Oh well.
I have enjoyed standing at meetings, both when I run the meeting and when I am just a member of a group. I am not sure why I enjoy standing. Maybe looking down on others (literally) boosts my self-confidence in some unconscious way. Or it could be that exercise, even of the mild type involved in standing for long periods, elevates mood.
I believe that standing at meetings will become common in the future, mostly for health reasons. Professionals will move in this direction first, and others will follow later. Maybe you will join me in the avant-garde and let me know your experiences.
John Malouff, PhD, JD
Assoc Prof of Psychology
Bravo John!
I’ve also taken this on (as a private project for myself). I find I’m still struggling with the tiredness standing brings, but I do have some bad back issues that are not helping. Having said that, I’m certain standing more is also helping my back get stronger…at least, that’s the visual I use when standing.
I do/did feel self-conscious standing where everyone else is sitting, but like you, have found a few will join in, even if only for a short time. So, like you, I think the modeling may be working at some level.
I’ve been listening to lecture podcasts, whilst also taking copious notes standing, but that’s only because I found the perfect desk (draftsmen style) which allows me to write while standing…perhaps something for you to consider when you are scribe at your next meeting?
At the moment, I find my deliberate standing is maximum of 1.5 hours, so nowhere near your impressive 3 hour marathon…but I’m a work in progress.
I now feel less deviant and use my standing behaviour to take the opportunity to spread the word about sitting being the new ‘killer on the block’.
http://www.xspeedtraining.com/2013/sitting-the-new-silent-killer/
I hope you are right and standing will become the ‘new sitting norm’. But, like most things in life, I think maybe everything in moderation?
Susan Mundy
Psychologist in training
Hi Susan. That’s great. Your experiences are similar to mine. It will take a while to change the social script of sitting during meetings. Regarding standing while at a computer, I have done that for most of several days, using big plastic containers upside down on my desk on which to put my computer and keyboard. I believe my nice employer, UNE, will soon buy me a desk that I can raise and lower, giving me a convenient, safe way of working at my computer either standing up or sitting down.