Tips to Use Your Walking Treadmill Desk for Maximum Benefit

Let’s face it, walking on a treadmill is boring if that is all you are doing.  Working at your treadmill desk can make working more pleasant, but after a few hours your legs are going to be sore and you’ll probably want to quit using the treadmill desk.  But don’t give up on treadmill desk usage!  It is a wonderful way to get fit, improve your posture and stay fit!  [easyazon_image align=”none” height=”368″ identifier=”B00MD20ONG” locale=”US” src=”https://getfitandhealthyathome.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/03/51xHUAgSRtL.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]

Start Treadmill Desk Usage Slowly

Not everyone can adapt to walking for hours on end after being used to sitting for hours at a time.  Therefore, walking and working requires some adjustment.  Start with an hour and work your way up.  You can do an hour on and an hour off.  Build up to seven or eight hours a day over the course of two months.  It doesn’t have to be a sudden switch.

Do Something Fun at Your Treadmill Desk

Sometimes your concentration is compromised by the walking and working.  You can’t fully focus on your work while you are getting used to walking and working at the same time.  Don’t worry.  The automaticity will come.  In the meantime, adjust to working at your desk by doing fun stuff online.  These things can include:

  • Watching funny videos
  • Scrolling through social media sites – facebook, twitter
  • Posting on your own social media sites
  • Gaming (Please don’t tell me you do candy crush!)
  • Workouts (There are plenty on youtube!)
  • Grab some barbells and get an arm exercise in as well!

Make Sure the Ergonomics are Good for You

Walking and working will be just as bad for you as sitting and working if you have to hunch over to see your laptop screen.  Make sure that the screen is eye level and the keyboard is at about a 90 degree angle to your elbow for the most comfort.  This is going to require most people to purchase a monitor stand or a laptop stand to elevate it.  (That has been my experience, but at six feet tall, I tend to tower over most of my friends!  I’m not sure how the ergonomics are working for shorter people, but I still imagine that they need to elevate the monitor slightly.)[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”B01M74EC0P” locale=”US” src=”https://getfitandhealthyathome.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/03/51p2s8qI7ML.SL160.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”160″]

Pimp Out Your Walking Treadmill Desk Workstation

Let’s face it, it is more fun to work when you have cool tools and they make life easier for you.  One of the biggest downsides to treadmill desk workstations is that they don’t have drawers.  This is understandable because many of them are adjustable and some of them are so tall that the emphasis for the producers of these desks is to get height and now worry about drawers.  So, what will you need?

  • A place for file folders and hanging file folders[easyazon_image align=”right” height=”160″ identifier=”B0012VIJGS” locale=”US” src=”https://getfitandhealthyathome.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/03/51f2BYLHYb1L.SL160.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”160″]
  • Storage for pens, pencils
  • A mouse and a mouse pad – It is so much easier to use a mouse than trying to use the touchpad on your laptop while you are walking[easyazon_infoblock align=”none” identifier=”B00000JRRD” locale=”US” tag=”mcurle08-20″]

Lots of work is done on computers, but you will want to make sure that you have some space at your desk for jotting notes.  You will also need to stay organized.  A box near your desk with hanging file folders will help you stay organized and keep what you need nearby.  [easyazon_image align=”right” height=”160″ identifier=”B001603YQU” locale=”US” src=”https://getfitandhealthyathome.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/03/41MxGL42BSL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”160″]

You can purchase stackable letter trays to keep some of your papers organized, however, this will take up some of the space on your desktop, so you may want to stay organized with hanging file folders that are placed on the floor or a separate filing cabinet nearby.

Keep Your Walking Treadmill Desk Organized

Let’s face it, no one really wants to sit down at a messy desk and work.  Likewise, you will be really reluctant to walk up to your treadmill desk and want to conquer the day when papers are strewn everywhere.  Take my advice and get organized!  Use the file folders, the pencil holders and keep it all neat.  Your walking treadmill desk workstation will seem more inviting when it isn’t cluttered with papers.  [easyazon_image align=”left” height=”130″ identifier=”B00H5CVCN0″ locale=”US” src=”https://getfitandhealthyathome.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/03/510ijTTwS6L.SL160.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”160″]

Pretend You are On a Real Walk

Sometimes it is just yucky outside and there isn’t anything you want to watch on hulu or netflix.  There are virtual walks that you can go on to pretend you are outside.  If you haven’t walked and worked that day, get off your butt and go on one of these virtual walks.  It definitely isn’t the same as walking in nature, but it will get you using your treadmill.  The more you use your treadmill desk, the more comfortable you will be with it and soon you will begin to love it!

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5 thoughts on “Tips to Use Your Walking Treadmill Desk for Maximum Benefit”

  1. I’ve never heard of a walking treadmill desk before. I could be wrong but I think it would be difficult for me to concentrate and think strategically while walking on a treadmill. However, you stated that it will get easier with time. How long do you think it will take for someone to be able to use the walking treadmill desk while being able to fully focus on what they are doing?

    1. It probably takes about a week. You don’t walk very fast. You know you can walk and talk at the same time. You can type and walk at the same time. I’m doing it right now. 

  2. Hi Melinda, I love this idea. I have been thinking about how to do it for a while. We work at our computers so much of the time and I find myself doing it wherever I can – mostly sitting on my bed hiding from my toddler! But this really can not be good for my back.
    I used to read books when I was running in the gym so this is just taking it to the next level. I just need to find one that will fit in a small apartment…or even better fold away – have you seen anything like that on the market? I might be dreaming but they are quite ugly and if you don’t have a separate room for them then when you are not using them you need to look at them all the time…

    1. I agree, they are hideous unless you spend a ton of money on them. I use a treadmill that is portable and will fold up. The desk isn’t as easy to move, so even though it is portable, I only take it down for company. 

  3. What a great Idea, I have never heard of this before 🙂 Nice article an I have website envy right now! Good for you.

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