There's this conventional wisdom about workspace setup: ignore the table, prioritize the chair because there's where your butt stays for 8 hours a day. I still largely subscribe to investing in swanky ass chairs.

But if that's true then chances are the opposite would also be true. In the interest of inversion-manuever (where you invert the common advice given), I took the opportunity and sat on a stool throughout the work day.

The occasion came a few weeks back when my chair's spine broke to the state of FUBAR. Instead of getting a new chair, I figure let's try something new and sit on a simple stool instead.

The effect is not that different from a standing desk arrangement (which I've done before). Like an exercise ball, the lack of backrest would compel you to keep your back straight and the chest out. That's the long term effect I'm going for, the habit of posture. A comfortable chair doesn't build this habit.

For that to be sustainable on a stool it matters where you put your legs. The feet can no longer be far in front anymore, you'll end up hunching. That's fine for a short break but most of the time the feet would have to be right under the butt, only then will your back set itself straight.

Discomfort will set in eventually (I can't tell how long though). When that happens it's time to get up and drink water, which is what you're supposed to do whatever you're sitting on anyway.

Another data point is the lack of urge to nap when sitting on stool. It might be simple correlation, but there's a slight chance of causation too.

Outside of work I notice my tendency to not hunch as a result. This experiment might actually stick.