Walking Pad and Office Work: My Experiences

I enjoy testing unconventional solutions on myself (or at least what feels unconventional to me). Sometimes, these experiments lead to significant changes - one of them might just be buying a walking treadmill to use while working. Does it sound like a chase for productivity? That’s not the point here at all. The reasoning is simple: working in IT, even if it seems safe, comes with the risk of various lifestyle-related diseases. I don’t want to suffer from back pain in 5-10 years, so a bit of extra movement can’t hurt.

Let me start with the first game-changer that entered my life back in 2019: an electric standing desk. It’s a real game-changer. It lets me not only sit but also stand a bit during work, and it paves the way for using other equipment. This winter was particularly cold in my region - cold enough that, at some point, I really didn’t feel like running outside. So, I started looking for alternatives. A bike trainer didn’t quite work out - sure, you can do a lot with it, but I decided it wasn’t for me. Maybe next year, since I’m getting back into cycling now. A treadmill… I’d tried that before, but it didn’t stick.

This time, I decided to approach it differently. First off, it’s a walking treadmill: the max speed, if I recall correctly, is 6 km/h. That’s a solid pace, perfect for a brisk walk, but honestly, I don’t think it’s ideal for desk work. I usually stick to around 4-4.5 km/h, which feels just right when I’m, say, learning something new by watching online courses. If you’re wondering whether you can write or read while using a walking treadmill at your desk - give it a shot, but in my opinion, it’s a terrible idea. I managed it at 1 km/h, but calling it “focused” would be a stretch. The goal isn’t to multitask all the time - that’s a recipe for failure - but to sneak in some extra movement when it makes sense.

The results? After 2-3 months, I’m clocking an extra 5-7 thousand steps a day. A lot or just enough - it depends on how you look at it. For me, it’s a great solution. The treadmill is lightweight and simple. I slide it under my desk and get it running in under a minute. It comes with a remote control, so I can adjust the speed anytime. Now that it’s getting warmer, I could ditch it, but you know what? I don’t want to. It’s become a habit - and, in my view, a pretty positive one.