Last week’s treaddesk email has prompted lots ‘o disappointing feedback in my inbox, such as:<\/p>\n
“I’m too clumsy for that…”<\/em><\/p>\n “What if I hit the wrong speed…!”<\/em><\/p>\n “I can’t type and walk…”<\/em><\/p>\n “Too expensive…”<\/em><\/p>\n “I’d break my neck!”<\/em><\/p>\n Wowzers.<\/p>\n What a bunch. of. pansies.<\/strong><\/p>\n Sigh.<\/p>\n For one, you set the speed REALLY slow.<\/p>\n You’re not jogging or running, you’re not even strolling.<\/p>\n I started at .5 mph and was banging out copy and emails without much trouble within a few hours.<\/p>\n Is it a bit awkward at first?<\/p>\n Yes.<\/p>\n Just gut it out for a few hours, Wimpy.<\/p>\n Or, if you’re really fragile, just start by using it to surf the Internet or waste time on Flakebook or whatever — passive activities. Soon you’ll start replying to emails and doing other light writing and not even notice it. After that, when .5 mph gets too easy (you’ll know because it will feel TOO slow, kinda awkward, as you’re not really used to walking that slow) you ramp it up to 1 mp.<\/p>\n Then 1.5.<\/p>\n Nowadays, I do it at 2 mp.<\/p>\n Probably, I’ll go faster one day.<\/p>\n More:<\/p>\n If you get a good one it will track your miles walked and calories burned. If I’m at, say, 375 calories burned and done writing, I’ll crank it up to 4 mp and bang out those last 25 within minutes.<\/p>\n So it becomes like a game.<\/p>\n Something you look forward to<\/span>.<\/p>\n I’ve also found it boosts my productivity.<\/p>\n (REAL work, not just being “busy” activities.)<\/p>\n I have WAY more energy, too.<\/p>\n And, now I get in a groove where I’m listening to music and walking and don’t even notice it anymore. Plus, instead of setting kitchen timers and forcing myself to get up, I simply let my body tell me when to take a break (where I have to sit down, instead of walk around).<\/p>\n I also have more motivation to do other exercising.<\/p>\n All these cool benefits.<\/p>\n Yet, the majority of responses have been lame excuses.<\/p>\n Well, with ONE exception.<\/p>\n Amidst the naysaying, I got this email:<\/p>\n Hi Ben,<\/strong> Word.<\/p>\n Anyway, here’s the article again:<\/p>\n
\n Thank you for the link to Chris Kresser’s post. You have most likely saved several lives, probably including mine.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n