I do a selection of these regularly and they help a lot. You should also do stretches that specifically target your arms and shoulders. In a video from the Focal Upright YouTube channel demonstrates some “standing desk yoga”, or simple stretches and exercises that will keep your back loose and help you avoid any chronic pain in your legs. While it’s good to take breaks from standing (more on that later) there are a few extra things you can do to keep your back, shoulders, arms and legs from getting stiff and sore. Working at a standing desk fatigues you a lot faster than when you’re sitting, but it also does a number on your joints and muscles. I use a small cardboard box for this (not pictured), but there are plenty of step stool options online if you want something that looks nicer.
It can help keep your back from getting stiff and give your legs a little break. Mark Sisson at Mark’s Daily Apple also recommends elevating one foot periodically while you stand. It provides some padding and it’s nice for doing my workouts. I use an extra-thick Spoga Exercise Yoga Mat with Comfort Foam. Even with shoes on, the softer you can make your standing zone the better. It’s also a good idea to increase the padding of your standing area. They have got nice foam insoles and I feel funky fresh wearing them - which is sometimes more important than being comfortable. My other option is a pair of fuzzy house slippers my grandma never used. Otherwise, make sure your shoes have decent cushion, support and maybe a special insole. If you have a decent pair of running shoes, go with those. They provide a ton of cushion for my feet and stability for my knees when I run in the city, and they’re great for long bouts of standing as well. The first is a nice pair of running shoes, my New Balance Fresh Foam Vongos. I have a couple of footwear options for my standing desk. Why not? This is a huge mistake: No matter how soft your carpet is, you should always wear shoes, and preferably shoes that have some arch support in them. I was working from the comfort and privacy of my home, and standing on cushy carpet, so I was barefoot. After only a few days of standing, I noticed that my feet really hurt.