How do I get my Apple Watch Series 8 to know when I am standing?

The Apple Watch does not really know what position your body is in.

The Apple Watch uses the accelerometer to determine that your Apple Watch arm is swinging as you are walking.

It takes between 30 and 60 complete cycles of back and forth, normal walking, arm swings in a short period of time before the Apple Watch decides you have accomplished your “Stand” for the current hour.

If you interrupt the arm swinging for a few minutes, it will reset, and you have to start the 30-60 swings over again. Later in the day, it seems to require more arm swings, or if you keep having incomplete stand attempts, in the Apple Watch’s opinion.

In reality, you can just gently wave your arm around 30-60 times in a short period of time and get stand credit.

Knitters, sitting in a chair, always get their stand credit and huge step counts.

Professional Chefs, on their feet, working in a kitchen all day, miss their hourly stands, because their Apple Watch arm is often holding food being chopped, or carrying something when walking, or holding a pot, pan, etc…

No 30-60 arm swings in a short period of time, then no stand credit.

Despite what it's called, you can't just be standing. You have to be moving around and importantly, swinging your arm. If I've been sitting for an hour, walking around, swinging my arms for about 40 steps will usually do it. Standing at the counter and the comparatively small arm movements of rinsing a dish and putting in the dishwasher wouldn't be enough.