Treadmill Desks!

Hope this is the right place to post.

Extreme scariness. Read on the BBC News site that sitting at your desk all day can be very bad indeed. Even more bad than that, in fact. Apparently the new thing in ergonomics is the treadmill desk, or at least a standing desk.

I sit on my bum all day at work, apart from making lots of tea, then come home and sit in front of a computer. For the last few years, I've tried obsessively to get the perfect budget ergonomic setup. Last year I bought a new desk and yet another chair ... and a couple of weeks ago another chair again and a saddle stool. Saddle stools are superb for posture - can highly recommend them. Not sure how comfortable they are for prolonged male use.

But now I've spent the last two days sweating over whether to buy an electric sit-stand desk, an iGo standing desk, risers for the feet of the desk I already have, sturdy risers for my computer and keyboard, even a couple of chopping boards with legs (!) for my keyboard and to support the heavy weight of my computer. The last seemed briefly like a really good idea. Finally employed a couple of cardboard boxes, tilted my Mac back as far as it will go, and ordered an underdesk treadmill and stepping machine. Now all that remains is to find properly ergonomic cardboard boxes.

WillSauger said:

If you're sitting for extended periods of time, take a walk outside for god's sake. I'll sit down for 5 hours to write, and walk around for thirty minutes to get my legs moving and ideas.

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I do love going out for a walk. In summer, I take every opportunity to work in the glen near my house, breaking up my day with glorious walks. I'm really blessed to have such an inspiring place to work, but sadly I live in the land of the rarely rising sun. Right now, breaking up an evening's writing by going out for a walk isn't an option as it's too dark too early. Besides walking quickly to work, ten mins there and back, and wandering around town during my half hour lunch break, I just don't exercise. At least with the stepper and treadmill I can break off for a while and get the blood flowing.

I'm going to see how I go with the cardboard box standing desk conversion. I have a damaged disc in my neck, which I don't doubt is due to sitting all day. Anything is worth a shot.

KTC said:

I have several friends who have been using these for several years, now. I always thought it was a crazy idea. I'm actually under the impression I'd be horrible at walking and typing at the same time. My brain would struggle to free-flow my writing if I was walking, I would think. So, I never contemplated the idea myself. But my friends are happy with their treadmill desks.

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I have a tendency to stand up and jiggle from foot to foot while writing, especially when working intensely and having new ideas. Doesn't help my neck problems, with a regular desk. These treadmills can be set at 1 mph, so writing and walking shouldn't be so hard. If it is, breaking off from writing and speeding up the treadmill is an option.

Reziac said:

Hmm, that's a good idea. I tend to get physically bored, and this would solve the issue. And as it happens there's a junked exercycle sitting here that I could probably adapt as a desk. Hmm!!

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Sounds interesting! I'm getting on well with my conversion, which has got classier since I swapped the cardboard boxes for a chess board. Also dusted off my step machine and set it to a shallow tread. Love it. The only problem you might have is the hassle of converting from sitting to standing and then to your exercise equipment. If all goes well and this isn't a phase, I might buy an adjustable sit-stand desk in a few months.