We’re always being told that exercise and wellbeing are vital. Of course, they are, but how are you supposed to fit in the time to go to the gym, when you have a busy life?
To answer that quandary, there is a new innovation on the scene - treadmill desks. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like, a desk, which has a treadmill attached to it. The person will then walk on the treadmill periodically whilst doing their work. Hey presto! Exercise as part of your working day.
This isn’t where it ends, as there are also bike desks on the horizon, which allow you to cycle whilst you’re typing!
How do you feel about these types of treadmill desks? Are they really the future?
Let’s check out the pros and cons:
PROS
• Increased Exercise - Employees will burn calories and tone up whilst using the treadmill desk. This can help with achieving and maintaining a healthy BMI and weight in general
• Increased Focus - Exercise helps to focus the mind, by delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients around the body and to the brain
• Increased Mood - Exercise is known to be fantastic for battling low mood, and with stress such a huge issue in the workplace these days, exercise at your desk could really help to battle this problem
• Less Boredom and Monotony - Boredom does nothing for productivity, a little exercise can break up the day and avoid those energy slumps
CONS
• Extra Space - These types of desks are quite large, and don’t fit in that well with regular office space planning endeavors
• Extra Cost - As you can imagine, treadmill desks are quite expensive, and it would be difficult to purchase one for every employee
• Risk of Injury - Whilst unlikely at low impact, it’s not impossible for an employee to become injured!
• Less Concentration - It’s possible that an employee might be more taken with the actual exercising and not concentrate on the task at hand as well as they otherwise might
Purchasing a treadmill desk is a large consideration and investment and it’s likely to be something you need to speak to your employees about before you decide to take the plunge. Is there a possibility to hire one, just to try it? That could save you time if it turns out to be a non-starter amongst your employees!
Regardless of whether the desk has a treadmill attached to it or not, purchasing good quality desks is vital it you want your staff to be comfortable, supported, and productive.
You can find countless choices for different desks and other office furniture options by doing some online research, and searching for ‘office furniture near me’. This is vital in helping your staff get their job done in a healthy way. Remember, your employees are sitting at these desks for long periods of time. How about standing desks? These are thought to be a great choice too.
Of course, even if you opted for a treadmill desk, it wouldn’t be an answer for total health and wellbeing. This type of exercise isn’t the only thing to utilize. In fact, heading outside for fresh air, walking with other people for a social element, and encouraging a healthy diet, full of fresh fruit and vegetables, is vital too.
How do you feel about these types of desks, either treadmill desks or bike desks? Do you think they will realistically make a mainstream appearance in our offices in the future? Or, do you think it’s more likely to be a fad, something which the odd office tries and the puts it away as a ‘glad we tried that’ endeavor? Many office furniture stores will start to stock these, but how many offices will take them up on the opportunity?
Perhaps it is better to think about more inventive ways to keep fit, with desk yoga being a great way to stretch and gain extra focus, without having to purchase a huge desk with a piece of gym equipment attached to it! Car sharing initiatives, ‘walk to work’ challenges, weight loss challenges, and on-site gyms might be a far better option for regular employees, and better for the overall budget of the workplace.
Check out our Facebook page and share your ideas and views on treadmill desks, and other types of exercise you can do in the workplace. It would be great to have a real conversation about these new trends, to identify whether they would work, or whether we really need to put them to one side and focus on easier to establish options.