Walk and Work: The Wonders of a “Treadmill Desk”

I am going to be honest, sometimes I give my husband a hard time because he really enjoys shopping. Like REALLY enjoys it…much more than I do. So it’s kind of a joke between us. However, I have to give him credit because over the years he has perfected his shopping and for the most part usually buys us really functional things. His latest functional purchase and my last birthday present: an adjustable stand up desk with a treadmill underneath it. I call it my “Treadmill Desk”. It is so amazing that I wanted to write about it so everyone else can know how amazing it is. Gone are the days of sitting on my butt for 6 or 7 hours while I type away doing notes or working on my evaluations or other group practice duties. Now…I can type and slowly walk. In fact today I walked 6 miles while I was in a 4 hour virtual training. It’s pretty fantastic!

Why walk and work you wonder? Isn’t working hard enough already? The reality is movement is critical for our bodies. Thousands of years ago, human bodies were designed with an intention to hunt for food in order to survive. We were not designed to live a sedentary lifestyle. As technology continues to advance at a speedy rate, many of us are finding ourselves spending more and more hours working in front of a computer and sitting at a desk rather than moving around. Manual labor for work is becoming a thing of the past unless you are in a specific field that requires more physical activity like construction or the service industry. These days many of us are able to do all of our work simply in one room and sitting at a computer. Sounds fab, one might think…not exactly.

Sitting for hours on end can cause physical and emotional harm. Have you ever experienced shoulder or back pain just from sitting all day? If you are the type of person like me where you get tense when you are concentrating you may be really rigid in your neck and shoulder muscles. Ouch! You may experience back pain from sitting with incorrect posture or if your office chair does not support you appropriately.

What about the mental effects of being inside sitting all day? You are missing out on critical levels of Vitamin D that we absorb from the sunlight. Vitamin D improves your mood and increases Serotonin levels and Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood, emotions, and overall digestion. Getting outside and getting some fresh air even if it’s for a few minutes can be a game changer with regard to a mood enhancer. Research has shown that our brains are more alert when we are walking and our senses have more acuity because we are moving. This can make it easier to listen more attentively as well as access emotions you don’t always realize are bubbling up. Sometimes just being sedentary for hours can be exhausting and make us feel lethargic and groggy. Obviously, it’s important to get enough sleep each night but if you are finding yourself dozing off, moving around and walking for a bit whether outside or on a treadmill will wake you up and get you refocused.

In wrapping up, the ideal situation is to buy yourself a treadmill desk or at least a stand up desk to reduce sitting for hours each day. This may not be a simple step for you but it’s an important one. If you cannot get that far, be intentional about getting up throughout the day and stepping outside for a quick walk. Make it a point to move your body somehow for 30 minutes and see what a difference you will feel.