We all follow behavioral scripts. When we see someone we know, we look at the person and say hello. When we enter a building, we walk in frontwards. When we go to a class as a student, we sit at a desk. In Australia, we never go into a classroom and squat, kneel, or lie down. We sit because that is part of the student script we have learned. Sitting in the classroom is part of a bigger script that tells us to sit as the default behavior whenever we are not sleeping or moving. In this posting I want to point out the folly of following that script. I can sum it up quickly: Exercise is very important to maintaining health, and sitting is the antithesis of exercise. Studies show that the more inviduals sit, the sooner they are likely to die. We would last longer in life if we sat only when we were tired or injured. Sitting then makes sense. Sitting by default in all situations where sitting is possible is a mistake.
So will students start to stand during class sessions? A few will — these will be the more sophisticated, confident students. They will be met by the treatment all deviants receive: nervous laughter, teasing, critical comments and gestures, and shunning. Only when a substantial percentage of students start to stand during class sessions will the reaction of others start to be more accepting. The same process will occur regarding standing in other situations where others are present, such as during meals, at meetings, at religious sevices, and so on.
Schools can help facilitate standing duirng class sessions by providing students with tables high enough to stand at. Labs often have such high tables — with high chairs so that students can sit! Without a high table, students who stand probably will have to hold a notebook in one hand and write with the other. Holding up a notebook can be tough — it takes effort — it is a type of exercise. Some students will do it, eventually provoking schools to put at least one high table in each classroom. That’s the future — because students, especially university students, want to stay healthy. Programs that train health professionals might be the first to see the standing future.
Can you picture yourself standing during a class session? Could you withstand the deviancy treatment you would receive? How much do care about your health? About being a health-behavior model for others? If you do violate a behavior script by standing, please post a comment about your experience.
I am standing at my PC as I write this. Tomorrow I will stand at a large meeting. Just writing all this about standing makes me feel tired. I think that I will sit for awhile. Then I pop up and listen to R.E.M. sing the theme song for those of us who like to stand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKKqLl_ZEEY
John Malouff, PhD, JD
Assoc Prof of Psychology
Hi John,
Great post. I work for a large federal government organisation (very much office based) and we are starting to see more and more people standing at their desks that have been adjusted for this purpose. Another innovation that I hear is soon to be trialled are “walking stations” where we would have a (very slow) treadmill at our desk and do our work at a slow walk – not fast enough to be working up a massive sweat, just enough to keep moving. No doubt the desk would be adjustable and when you need to sit down you can. I’d love to try it!
cheers,
Penny
Hi Penny. I like the idea of a treadmill because it would increase enery expenditure. It might be especially valuable for someone who does not exericse or play sports regularly.
Hi John
You got me thinking about the standing thing with your first standing post … and I remember seeing the desk of one of the US presidents in an historic house .. a desk you stood at to write … well .. now I can attend lectures live at home as an external student of UNE … I can stand … just needed a longer cord or a speaker … and walk around the room .. it’s great .. and sometimes I take a break and sit .. only to find myself getting up again … so it works doubly as an external student .. live lectures .. live tuts .. and standing … looking out at my garden and the forest beyond .. luxury graduate student life ..
Hi MS. You have it all going!
Hi John, thanks for your very timely post. I do indeed see the day when we will be standing more than sitting. As I work in an office job part time I just failed in my attempt to get a “stand up” desk (one that adjusts upward or down) because it was too expensive and dare I say, ‘way out for my conservative workplace to contemplate. But as I am in my mid fifties I find that I have chronic lower back pain like many people, probably through a lifetime of sitting while studying and working. I am probably a little over weight but not obese; I run regularly, 3-4 times per week (which helps keep the pain at bay ) , I stand whenever possible and and get up to go do something. I try to stretch and stay flexible. One of my friends got one of these desks and he says his back pain has lessened manyfold; he feels he has lost weight because he is standing more; his digestion is more efficient. all good reasons to try it!!!
The more we move, the better for us.
look forward to your lectures this term!
Sallie – Psyc102
Hi Sallie. A third-year student told me a few days ago that she stood during part of a class session at an intensive school. Later two other students in the class stood. Other academics come to look at my standing desk — they want one too. The next phase is the treadmill desk with a low treadmill that a person can walk on while working. For now, I find standing for several hours standing at my work station enough to make me feel happy to sit for a while.
I often ride my training bike while I listen to podcast lectures. Can I bring my trainer to a residential school?
Why not? Exercise is in fashion!