DIY Treadmill Desk: It Actually Works!

My metabolism feels like it’s slowing down now that I’ve passed the 40-year mark. Maybe it’s not actually my metabolism. It might just be that I’m struggling to fit in regular exercise! Regardless, I had the idea that a treadmill desk might be a relatively easy way to fit in some extra exercise each day. I searched for treadmill desk options. The price quickly sent me down the DIY route. I’m excited to report that my DIY treadmill desk actually works!

I bought a relatively inexpensive treadmill several years ago. All of the desk add-ons I found were out of my price range. To make it more difficult, my treadmill has slanted arms. So it made the process of building a DIY treadmill desk a little more complicated. I had to seek the help of my trusty friend and colleague.

At first I followed internet advice and bought a shelf. It was too thin, however, to properly support the screws. My colleague sent me straight back to the store to buy a proper piece of wood.

With a properly thick and sturdy piece of wood, the project was much easier. He used a scrap piece of wood to help angle the wood flat on the slanted arms. He screwed in the eyelets. Then we bungied it onto the treadmill. And that was that!

It’s actually surprisingly easy to work on my laptop while walking one mile an hour. And, sadly, walking one mile an hour does get me into my “fat burning zone” according to my heart monitor. I seriously worry there’s something wrong with my heart because of that fact. I am walking so slowly but it’s exercise! But the cardiologist assures me it’s just hypochondria.

For a while I was trying to walk 30 minutes a day. Now I’m trying to fit in 60 minutes. When I have my weekly meeting with myself to look ahead and make time for my priorities, I schedule in walking time. My DIY treadmill desk is working pretty well!