There is evidence that standing is better for the human body than sitting. For work we have standing desks for computer work and such. Some aim to stand 8+ hours a day.
What about for other activities? How do the unemployed, retired, and homemarkers get in enough standing? Are there good ways to stand while reading a book, or sipping a coffee and enjoying the dawn?
If you’ve ever worked a job where you stand in the same place for 8+ hours, you know that it can also be rough on the body. The current advice that I see floating around is to change your position at least every hour.
If you want to be healthier, do the physical exercise that your body can do. Walk instead of drive, and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Probably the best way would be eliminating reliance on cars and creating walkable neighborhoods with stores, restaurants, and services within walking distance, in the US anyway. Did people ever, throughout human history, just stand around the house?
When I was unemployed I used to walk waaaay more than I do now - both to get to places and just as a hobby - and I’d hope to do the same when retired, as long as I am fit enough. That’s walking though. Standing in one place is something that I find extremely wearing and have never done when not necessary. As I understand it this is fundamental to the nature of bipeds. To stand still, we constantly need to adjust balance. However, when walking, it is basically a continuous, controlled fall forwards, and takes less energy. For quadrupeds, it is the other way around: they are stable when standing, but require constant effort to walk or run.
I probably spend most of my reading time horizontal rather than sitting, but if I am reading when vertical then, again, it will be walking - or pacing around - rather than standing. I would seem really weird to simply stand there and read.
This is why I do a lot on my kitchen counter. Sometimes I’ll eat there, do knife sharpening and knife stuff there, you could read a book there, drink my coffee (it has the coffee machine too), etc. also my kitchen window has an excellent view of sunrise
you could read a book there, drink my coffee
I look forward to using your kitchen counter to drink your coffee!
Also if you do go through with that make sure to get a soft mat to stand on. Standing on a hard surface for long periods is also bad for you (and painful, and cold).
I honestly think it’s too broad of a question since each of those types of people will be doing vastly different things through their time at home. I might play with my dog more often when unemployed, while a homemaker is on their feet caring for a child, and a retired person is doing home maintenance. All of those are different activities on foot, but maybe not available to people in different situations.
I could note however, my grandma has a standing sewing machine that’s pretty cool. As for books, I’ve used a music stand in the garage before, though maybe a podium of sorts would be better in the house.
