Make a treadmill desk for almost free! It is crazy how much these new treadmill desks cost! (Looking for how to DIY a sitting Desk in a small space jump to this post.)
Even A. J. Jacobs in his book Drop Dead Healthy talks about making a treadmill desk instead of purchasing a high priced one from Amazon.
Make Your Treadmill Desk for Free ( Almost)
Treadmills are easy to find for free. Look in the paper, ask a neighbor, look at online garage sales. It is really crazy how many folks spent hundreds or thousands on a treadmill and then throw dirty clothes on it. Just start looking and I can almost guarantee one will pop up.
Once you have the free treadmill you can make a few choices. There are treadmill workstations that can be placed on top of the existing treadmill.
DIY Your Own Treadmill Desk
I have been using a standing desk for about 2 years now. I even have one in my camper! So if you get a free treadmill why not add your own desk? We did it with scrap lumber, leftover screws, paint, and rope.
Did I say paint? I just have not gotten there yet. I am also thinking of changing how this top folds up. I may buy $5 worth of hardware to make the desk pop on and off. Not the storage I had in mind, but right now I can’t use it as a regular treadmill. Pin this for a January Project!
Using a Treadmill Desk
If you purchase a treadmill desk, they typically do not come with high speeds or an incline. In fact some folks keep two of these enormous space eating monsters in their homes. One for running and one for walking. In a small home that just is not an option. (Learn the benefits and risk of standing verse sitting desk in this post)
By building a DIY Treadmill desk on a traditional treadmill myself, my family members have the option to do three things–walk and work, stand and work or pop up or off the desk part. Taking the desk off lets you run and/or incline the treadmill for true exercise.
When typing or working on the treadmill, the speed of 1-2 miles per hours is about normal. Any faster and your typing speed decreases while errors increase.
Need to watch something or talk on the phone–increase the speed.
Is this a substitute for “real exercise” No, but it does keep your mind moving and your brain on task. There is a lot less daydreaming if your hands are typing and your feet are walking.
Standing Verse Sitting Desks -Risks and Benefits of Both
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