The Walking Desk

This contraption is what's known as a "walking desk" - a treadmill with a desk surface that allows you to work while you walk. I read about this on a nerdy blog, and was intrigued by the argument that since sitting is an unnatural position that lies at the root of back problems, carpal tunnel, heart disease, etc., then walking is a good alternative. Plus, since you exercise all day, you end up with buns of steel. So, I thought I'd give it a shot.

If you google "treadmill desk" you will find many expensive and elaborate contraptions for sale, but you will also find instructions for building your own. Most of these, as you might imagine, involve carpentry. I am not equipped for carpentry, so I thought to myself "I'm a Girl Guide - I can figure this out on my own." I started to look around my house for materials that could be suitably re-purposed. In the back of my closet I unearthed the "Handi Bed" - a camp bed with a metal frame. Since I have no intention of camping anytime soon (specifically, not until the day that I have a child of my own who feels the need to experience camping), I felt like it was time for the bed to start a new chapter in its life. I was pleased to discover that the metal poles were long enough to span the distance between the armrests on the treadmill. I dug around more and found some rope that my Dad had used for securing furniture when he moved my possessions down from Canada.

Finding the rope was a eureka moment. My readers should know that as a Girl Guide, I was a knot-tying maniac. I would read books on knots for fun, and challenge myself to replicate the patterns until I could whip up a bowline-on-a-bight or a sheet bend with my eyes closed. You never know when you're going to have to shorten a rope in the dark. I applied this store of knowledge to affixing the poles to the treadmill. Then, I needed a platform to put my computer on. The solution was to use the lid from a storage bin, and secure it with duct tape. Voila!

It is surprisingly easy to walk and work. I've found that one doesn't get as distracted when doing boring things, and it can be quite good for keeping one's energy up. I'm now walking between 2-3 miles a day while I write. The treadmill is at home, where I do most of my work anyway, but someday I look forward to having one in my office on campus, and having it contribute to my reputation as a weird professor.