I struggled with standing desk foot pain — until I tried these 3 things

Solution #1: Anti-fatigue mat

The most important and most effective recommendation I can make for anyone who’s a long-term standing desk user is to get a proper anti-fatigue standing mat. The keyword there is “proper.” Not all anti-fatigue mats are equal, and getting the wrong one is just a waste of your money.

Truth is, there are so many standing mat designs out there, ranging from simple and compact options to expansive mats with all sorts of ridges and bumps. I’ve tried my fair share over the years and I’ve developed my own preferences—but even then, some are objectively better.

For starters, simple memory foam is a no-go. While this material is fantastic for your bedtime pillow, it’s next to useless when it comes to standing on it all day long. You exert too much force on it and it will very quickly lose its supportive and cushioning capabilities. If you see an anti-fatigue mat meant for kitchens, skip it. They’re usually made of memory foam and won’t provide the all-day relief you need at a standing desk.

I’d also avoid any standing mat that’s totally flat and uninteresting in its design. Not because they’re dull to look at, but because variety in texture and shape can make a real difference to your standing comfort. Again, anti-fatigue mats for kitchens are usually like this, so skip them. Instead, look for contours, bumps, ridges—features that not only encourage different stances but also let you relieve pressure points.

The design I’ve personally settled on is the Uplift Active Anti-Fatigue Mat E7. It’s huge and takes up far too much floor space for something so simple, but it’s really comfortable and effective. The polyurethane is tough but flexible so it contours when I stand on it, but not so much as to provide no resistance. When my feet start to tire or ache, I can use the mat itself to massage them—especially the half-spheres on the sides, which are great for digging into the arches. The prickly section offers points of micro pressure, which feel really nice on tired feet.

To be fair, the Uplift E7 mat isn’t the only one that offers these features, and it’s expensive for what it is, but I think it’s worth the money. It works well with bare feet and with shoes, it’s durable and holds its properties, and it comes with a 15-year warranty. Uplift is confident you won’t wear this thing out. (I consider that a challenge!)