During this past summer, I volunteered at our township’s recycling and clean-up day. It was a three-and-a-half-hour shift. I was assigned to direct residents to the correct entrance and exit. I was on my feet the entire time and didn’t sit down once.

My body did just fine. Because I made sure to do one thing.

If you think about having to stand for half an hour, let alone an hour or three hours—what do you anticipate? Backache, neck pain, sore hips, and knees? Certainly, if I stood still for that amount of time I’d be in pretty miserable shape.

Standing still is difficult. Moving is easy.

For my volunteer shift, I slowly walked around back and forth the entire time. It helped that I was dressed comfortably with good supportive shoes.

But the slow continuous movement was the key.

Any position you get into is going to have certain stresses on the body. Change up that position—even a little bit—and the stresses are going to change.

There is a reason that ergonomic professionals love to say that “the best position is the next position.”

You are made to move. The more gentle movement and variety of positions you can work into your day the better. Don’t look for the right position to sit or stand in, find ways to incorporate more movement into what you have to do.

Think of the variety of things you do on a given day. How could you incorporate more movement?

If you are working at a computer or desk or in an office setting you could

• Get a chair that allows you to move as you sit
• Invest in an adjustable height desk that not only allows you to sit on a wiggly chair but to stand, perch on a high stool, or sit in a regular chair (you know with a back and all that) and alternate between these options often.
• Challenge the norm and sit on the floor some of the time to do things, if you like to do that.
• Take your lunch break away from your desk so you walk somewhere and sit in a different chair to eat.
• Ask your colleagues to try having a 60-second break as part of every meeting.
• Organize your tasks for the day so you rotate through different work positions and movements instead of staying in one for an extended period.

If you are doing chores around the house or yard you could:

• Rotate through several different jobs that require different movements—doing 20 minutes of each—and then switching it up. Repeat until done.

If you have to stand waiting in line or maybe on a historic walking tour you could:

• Shift your weight from one foot to the other, back and forth.
• If you always stand with feet parallel, try standing with your feet staggered—one foot slightly forward of the other—and shift your weight back and forth from one foot to the other.

Do you have any tips or tricks to stand comfortably for long periods of time? I’d love for you to share them in the comments section below.

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