Do you use / have you used a walking desk?

[Blankiefan]

Do you have a walking desk? I have a sit/stand desk and am considering buying a treadmill to go under it when it's up. I have practical questions:

1. What type of work can you do whilst walking? Can you do work in Excel/write presentations/etc or is it mostly surface level review of documents, emails, etc?
2. Do you look silly during meetings if you're walking?
3. Is it noisy?
4. Did you use it for a week and then ignore it?

Thanks

Is this even a thing? I can’t imagine successfully working and walking - I slow right down doing teams chats on the school run and that’s just relatively brief replies not sure how officially trying to walk and work would actually work! 😂

Surely you’d just use it during breaks rather than whilst doing actual work? It would be really hard to type and walk and yes, it would look silly on video calls.

I have one. I only use it to walk when I'm scanning long documents, taking breaks, or listening in to webinars or presentations where I can safely keep my camera and mic off for the duration with no expectation of speaking. Otherwise I use it while MNing or watching a box set on my laptop!

I probably use it 1-2 days a week, it's great for getting my steps up on days I WFH and don't have to walk on the commute.

I actually can type and use my mouse when walking slowly, to my surprise. I also have a cordless mouse I can hold in my hand to scroll webpages while walking.

I’ve heard they work best when set to about two mph ie slow. And if you’re on a Teams call whilst walking it’s very distracting to anyone looking at you onscreen. Other than that they’re apparently great.

Yes I would never use it with my camera on, or when I'm supposed to be speaking at all - I'd be out of breath for a start and it's also quite noisy (at least the one I have) so it would sound like I was being chased down by a stomping T-rex while finalising our latest quarterly reports!!

Someone I work with has one and it is weird when he’s on video calls 😂 I would just use it when not on camera.

I’m thinking of investing in one, I spend a lot of time reading long documents, listening to calls and just generally ‘thinking’ so I think I’d use one a lot. But I’d need to get a standing desk first!

There was a shared hot desk with a walking treadmill at the last company I worked for. When it was first installed loads of people used it but after a while it was always empty or groaned if that was the only desk left. I tried it once but couldn't get on with it, I could only really use it if I was just watching or listening to something. I'd love a sit/standing desk though.

I used a walking treadmill under a large standard desk for some while. You get used to it, but it takes practice. I raised the monitor with boxes. Total cost just over £100.

Scrolling, typing, both possible. Delicate mousework took a lot more practice. I was walking at about 2 miles per hour. Gets you through a long winter, exercise wise. No need for heating, either!

For those of you looking for a sit/stand desk, I have this which just sits on top of a normal table/desk - this one fits two big monitors, there is a smaller version if you only need one monitor. It's solid and very good quality, adjusts to any height, rises in its own footprint so it doesn't stick out any further than you want it to, it doesn't need to be plugged in and I can adjust it with one hand even with two monitors and my laptop on it.

smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08CX82N8X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

@Xiaoxiong oooooh. Tempting!

That looks brilliant @Xiaoxiong thanks.

I’m considering getting a treadmill for under the desk, as my new role is entirely WFH and I’m getting porkier by the week. From videos I’ve seen, it seems that slow speeds should be doable.

Now just need to choose a treadmill!

I’ve no idea how you would work and walk, i struggle to watch tv on the gym treadmills without falling off or getting travel sick! I suspect you’d have to walk so slowly that you’d be better going for a brisk walk after work.

Plenty are sold, so people manage. I could do 2 miles an hour and scroll and type and was never the PE type. What it is good for is knocking sedentary life on the head. Much better for your back as well as general health. 8 miles a day, say, think about it. Keeps the weight off and the heating bills down!

I’m looking at it to avoid being sedentary between dog walks (generally first thing & after work) I do around 18000 steps a day on average, but in between 9 and 5 I’m pretty much sat down constantly. A slow walk is better than nothing, and some of them can do running too (although I’m not convinced I’d use that feature as I prefer to run outside).

When you’re walking, do you feel like you are close enough to the desk, mouse, screen etc, or is it a bit too far? Are walking desks better, or is a normal desk with a height extension okay?

A friend of mine uses one at his office, and says he can do anything within reason up to three mph.