Raising your desk is the easy part. Standing on a hard floor for four hours a day is what sends most people back to their chair within a month.

The desk was fine. The floor was the problem.

Why standing on a hard floor hurts

Standing still on concrete or hardwood forces your feet, knees, and lower back to hold one rigid position all day. Muscle fatigue sets in faster than people expect, and the ache is not a sign that you are weak. It is a sign that nothing is helping you move.

A good mat does two things. It cushions, and it gives you different surfaces so you shift your stance without noticing.

What to look for

1. At least three quarters of an inch thick. Thin mats do almost nothing. Half inch foam flattens in a month under a standing person.
2. A beveled edge. This is the detail that separates a mat you will actually use from one that becomes a trip hazard. A sharp edge catches your foot every time you step off.
3. Different zones or a raised ridge. A mat with a built in bar to rest one foot on is worth far more than a plain rectangle, because it lets you alternate positions.
4. Non slip bottom on hard floors. A mat that slides is worse than no mat.
5. Wipeable top. You will spill coffee on it. Every single person does.

Size matters less than people think. You only ever stand on about two square feet of it. The giant mats exist so you can also use them with a treadmill, not because you need the space.

How it went

I bought a mid range mat with two thickness zones and a raised ridge along the front edge, around sixty dollars. The first two days it felt strange and I kept wanting to shuffle. By day four I stopped noticing it at all, which is the highest praise I can give a floor covering.

I now stand for about four hours a day in two blocks, and the afternoon heel ache is completely gone. I also find myself resting one foot on the ridge without thinking about it, which is apparently the entire design intent.

What I would skip

• Those balance board things. I tried one for a week and it made my ankles tired. Some people love them. I did not, and they are not a substitute for cushioning.
• Very soft thick foam mats. Feels great for the first ten minutes and your feet sink in and stabilize badly.
• Buying a mat before you actually stand. Raise the desk first and see whether you stick with it. If you do, the mat will be obvious.

One more thing worth doing at the same time: put a small stool or a box under the desk so you can alternate one foot up. Standing with one foot slightly elevated is a completely different posture, and it doubles how long you can comfortably stay up. That cost me nothing and helps as much as the mat.