Before the pandemic (remember that?), I walked to and from the office—about three miles each way, which logged up to about two hours of walking a day. I loved this walking time—I was listening to podcasts, drinking my coffee, preparing for my day, so when the pandemic hit, and my daily step count went down, it was the first thing I missed.
Two years later, like millions of others, I still work from home, and despite adding a closed puppy to the mix and working as a fitness editor, I still spend much of my day sitting behind a laptop.
So, when it came to testing the standing desk/under desk treadmill that made TikTok famous, I jumped at the opportunity (check out the best standing desks here). Will adding one of the best under-desk treadmills to my workday make me feel more energetic by the time I hit my 4pm slump? Or do my colleagues complain about that weird noise in the back of all Zoom calls?
I put on my walking shoes and gave them – read on to find out what happened.
I’ve Added an Under-Desk Treadmill to My Workday – Here’s What I Learned
Loved that I was able to walk 1 mile, burn 94 calories and take 2,304 steps – all while scanning my inbox
I wasn’t expecting to love walking and working as much as I did – I expected walking while staring at my laptop to feel a little bit like trying to read in the car, OK, but after a while you feel a little sick. Fortunately, for me, there was no travel sickness and after 20 minutes, I loved that I was able to walk 1 mile, burn 94 calories, and take 2,304 steps, all while scanning my inbox.
I also raised my heart rate to 85 bpm, and worked hard enough to build up a light sweat.
Of course, exercise is much more than just burning calories, but if you are Walking to lose weightHere’s how it can help you get in shape. I’m not trying to lose weight, but I know it too Walking for only 30 minutes a day It can strengthen your heart, boost your immune system, and help you build muscle.
My first note – you need a fair amount of space. I paired my treadmill with a standing desk, as I spend a lot of time typing on my laptop. If you’re someone who’s not glued to your computer, I imagine you can walk and talk with just your phone, but if you’re not, you’ll need a desk that you can lift, and a place to store your treadmill when you’re not using it.
Most under-desk treadmills have wheels and can be stored vertically, but require a little maneuverability.
Second, writing and walking was a new skill that I had to master. Having said that, I feel more productive when I walk, and I’ve been upping the pace in 10-minute breaks between meetings to strength walking, swinging my arms and extending my stride. I also alternated between sitting, and placing a chair across from my desk so I didn’t have to keep moving the treadmill.
My colleagues definitely noticed that I walked during meetings with my head bobbing against the camera and the buzzing noise in the background
But how did my colleagues react? They definitely noticed that I was walking during meetings with my head bobbing against the camera and the buzzing noise in the background. How annoying/distracting it was, I’ll never know, but after two years of working from home, everything worked, right?
Of course, a treadmill under the desk won’t cure your bad back or keep you in great shape at work, but it Do Help you get some movement into your day. I suffer from sciatica and often find that spending too much time sitting causes my back pain, so I appreciate the option to walk all day while getting work done.
I’ve also noticed that I feel more energized—whether that’s the novelty of walking while I’m working, or endorphins after my workout—but if your work-from-home days start to coalesce into one, the treadmill is definitely a treat. A fun way to mix things up, and get leaner as you do it.
Thinking of upgrading your exercise equipment at home? Here are the best treadmills for running indoors, as well as the best exercise bikes for lifting the core from the comfort of your own home.
[ad_2]
