How do I avoid anti-static discharge in my situation?

So I live in an apartment where the whole floor is covered with carpet. And I want to remove my CPU fan to add thermal paste on my CPU without causing anti-static discharge. I can put my pc case on a desk to work on it and I have an anti-static wristband. What else can I do to ensure that I won't cause an anti-static discharge on my PC? Can I put a hard surface on the carpet to stand on it when I open my PC Case?

@melis002: That's more than enough.

To be honest, I've NEVER used an anti-static wristband, I just make sure I ground myself out on something metal before touching any components and it's been perfectly fine.

@appariti0n: Do you mean that you put a metal object on your desk and touch it while working on your pc? If so, how heavy does the metal object need to be?

@melis002: Easiest is to leave your pc plugged in, but flick the power switch on the power supply to off.

Then touch the side/bottom of the case before beginning work, and any electricity should ground out through the power cord to the wall.

@appariti0n: I am now confused because I have a friend who told me that I should unplug my pc before opening the case, so that I don't cause the components to short circuit.

Nope, leaving the power supply plugged in offers a very easy route for static electricity to safely escape.

Edit: just make damn sure the physical switch on the power supply is set to off.

For starters, its called "Static discharge", anti-static means the opposite.

Its 2017... static-discharge isn't going to do anything to the components, you could rub your feet and wear a woollen sweater, gloves and socks and change stuff, its not going to do anything.

@GTR12: can you verify this? i too am curious as i always work on carpet and have never shorted anything out

No I cant, but how many incidents have you heard of ESD ruining components in the last few years? if it was a major issue, you'd hear about it.

Don't take it to the extreme like I said, just use common sense and it'll be fine. Like you said, you always work on carpet and nothing has shorted out.

@GTR12: true. well if its real then im one happy camper

It's about minimizing the risk for it to happen.

Leave it plugged in to the wall, but unplugg every power cable inside the case. Just touch it once in a while during work I guess.

Just touch your case to ground yourself. Don't rub your feet and you should be fine.

If I'm going to work on the CPU, I usually disassemble my unplugged PC enough so that I can take out the motherboard. Then, I set the components on my big wood desk. To discharge any static, I touch the PC case metal just before I work on a PC component. Sufficient enough to me.

Aside from plugging in cables and putting in RAM, I never work on the motherboard when it's inside the case.

You just quoted yourself lol

Well sounds like you should be good with the mat. That will ensure there is no voltage difference between you and the parts you touch.

You can also get some Staticide. I use it at work in the winter to keep static from building up when walking on carpet. It seems to cut down on door knob shocks.

https://www.amazon.com/ACL-Staticide-Regular-Topical-Anti-Stat/dp/B00BR55D5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1492975457&sr=1-1&keywords=anti%2Bstatic%2Bspray&th=1