Summary
Ben Greenfield interviews author J.F. Penn (Joanna Penn) about using dictation software and standing workstations to stay productive while avoiding repetitive strain injury. Penn shares how she overcame chronic elbow pain from typing by switching to Dragon Dictate voice-to-text software, standing at an adjustable Varidesk, and dictating while walking in the park. The episode traces the history of famous authors who used standing desks — from Leonardo da Vinci to Winston Churchill — and covers the ergonomic benefits of combining standing workstations with voice dictation for long-term writer health and productivity.
Key Points
- Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is common among desk workers after years of keyboard use — dictation can eliminate hours of daily typing
- Historical figures from Leonardo da Vinci to Winston Churchill used standing workstations for productivity
- Dragon Dictate software can be trained to a specific voice in about two hours and dramatically increases writing output
- Standing desks combined with Swiss balls, foam mats, and lean stools help maintain core activation and reduce lower back compression
- Walking while dictating combines low-level endurance training with creative work — author Kevin J. Anderson walks four hours daily while dictating
- Low-level physical activity during the day (standing, walking) means you can get away with shorter, more intense workouts
- Stability balls can compress the lumbar spine over time — leaning stools like the Focal Upright Mogo may be a better alternative
Key Moments
Historical figures who used standing workstations
Ben Greenfield traces the history of standing desks from Leonardo da Vinci and Thomas Jefferson to Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, noting that many famous authors also used dictation to stay mobile while writing.
"we've had a few episodes about staying healthy at work, staying fit at work, using things like standing desks and treadmill workstations. And this week, I began to delve into the list of historical figures who have used things like standing workstations. And it really is kind of a veritable who's who. Everyone from Leonardo da Vinci to Thomas Jefferson to Charles Dickens to Winston Churchill to Abraham Lincoln, all of these folks used standing workstations."
Overcoming RSI with standing desks and dictation
Author Joanna Penn describes how repetitive strain injury from 20 years of keyboard work drove her to adopt standing desks and voice dictation, eliminating hours of daily typing to preserve long-term career health.
"after 20 years of essentially using your arms in, let's face it, evolutionarily wise, not a very natural position, I started to get real pain. So I tried lots of things. We can come back to things like a Swiss ball and the standing desk."
Low-level activity at a standing desk reduces workout needs
Ben explains that standing and walking during the workday builds endurance and burns calories, meaning you can get away with shorter, more intense workout sessions at the end of the day.
"even for me, as a guy who has been a vocal proponent of things like standing desks and treadmill workstations, etc., it's really been a two-year process for me personally to get to the point where I can really truly be productive while walking four to six miles a day on my treadmill or spending lots of time standing."
