If I had a dime for each time, over the previous two years, somebody requested me for recommendation on working from house … effectively, I wouldn’t have to make money working from home anymore, as a result of I’ve fielded this query loads.

And it’s honest! In spite of everything, I’ve been doing the distant work factor, full time, continuous, and for numerous purchasers (together with my work right here at FBG) since 2007. I’ve discovered a factor or two … or perhaps twenty.

And probably the most vital issues I’ve discovered is that, wow, I do not like to take a seat all day. However I additionally don’t like to face all day. Name me Goldilocks. Principally, I like to maneuver round once I can, which implies that usually, if I’m on the cellphone, I’m typically pacing round my home.

Or, at the least I was … till everybody began utilizing Zoom and out of the blue, as a substitute discovering myself with a couple of minutes to stretch my legs whereas chatting, I used to be chained much more tightly to my desk. Certain, I may transfer from sitting to standing, and naturally I attempt to take common breaks to stretch, however nonetheless, my physique craved motion.

And the newest addition to my house workplace gives a option to do exactly that.

I obtained a FlexiSpot All-in-One Desk Bike (with a desktop) to evaluation in late December (not sponsored! Though I’m certain grateful for the chance to test it out!), and whereas I used to be excited to strive it out, I used to be additionally a little bit bit nervous. My husband, who shares the workplace with me, wasn’t tremendous thrilled about including one other piece of furnishings to the house. And whereas I knew I’d like the power to maneuver my physique with out stepping away from my display, I wasn’t certain how a lot coordination typing whereas pedaling would require. Hey, I’ve fallen off a stationary bike earlier than, and that was with out attempting to do any brainy duties on high of spinning, you realize?

Thankfully, each considerations had been rendered just about moot proper off the bat. The bike takes up much less house than we’d imagined, and once I’m performed getting in my every day miles, I roll it over to the facet of my desk, the place it tucks away fairly neatly.

And, as for typing, my highschool keyboarding trainer, Miss B., could be proud. (I do know, I do know, keyboarding class outs me as a lady of a sure age right here. I’m positive with that! Center age is superior!) My typing isn’t fairly as speedy as it’s once I’m seated or standing, however it’s nonetheless regular — and correct. I do discover that I favor to take a seat or stand once I’m engaged on a narrative that requires actually deep, artistic considering. Nonetheless, for simpler or extra easy duties, like answering emails or studying, I can cowl loads of theoretical floor whereas knocking out my deadlines!

So how a lot biking am I actually doing? I’ve made some extent to start out out slowly to verify I don’t trigger any overuse accidents (and to scale back the chance of it seeming like, you realize, arduous work, which could dampen my enthusiasm), and nonetheless, over the course of January, I logged over 200 miles! Hitting 10 to fifteen miles a day on any given workday is a cinch; even at a really leisurely tempo, that’s completed inside an hour or so. I attempt to differ my resistance a bit, and whereas I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration to my velocity, each infrequently, earlier than I take a break, I’ll do brief dash to get my coronary heart charge up or hit the following distance milestone.

One observe on this: the bike tracks journey and whole mileage, time, velocity, RPMs, and energy by itself show, and it doesn’t pair with an app or watch or something. Personally, that’s a professional in my e book — I’ve sufficient issues which might be linked for monitoring, and if I need to use the bike for a legit exercise that I need to present up on Strava, I’ll begin it manually on my watch, you realize? However, for my formidable step counters, you need to know that my watch doesn’t robotically depend my spinning as any steps. It doesn’t trouble me, however I notice some individuals really feel extra strongly about capturing that knowledge.

The opposite factor that’s so cool about this explicit bike with the connected desktop is that it simply rolls anyplace in my home. For many duties, I nonetheless prefer to arrange in my workplace with my twin screens, my ergonomic keyboard, and all my reference supplies close by. (In penning this, I’m starting to understand I’m a little bit explicit. Hmm.) However, hey, who doesn’t prefer to shake issues up infrequently? I’ve rolled my desk bike into the lounge every so often to work from my laptop computer with a barely completely different view, and let me let you know, it certain beats working from a hunched over place on the sofa.

Now, though I haven’t used my FlexiSpot desk bike for any severe exercises, on a couple of events I’ve labored up a little bit sweat — and I notice that could be a little bit extra of a difficulty (particularly right here in Florida) in the summertime. Thankfully, most individuals I meet with by video have zero drawback with me trying a little bit matted; if something, it’s led to them asking extra about my expertise with the desk bike! Nonetheless, if you happen to’re somebody who must look polished {and professional} throughout the day, you would possibly have to plan your desk bike use round vital conferences, so hold that in thoughts if you happen to’re contemplating an improve like this.

Significantly, y’all, I assumed this could most likely be fairly cool, however it’s completely smashed my expectations. On the times once I make good use of it (which, at this level, is most work days), my temper is best, and since my physique tends to really feel higher with constant, light motion, it’s even helped with a few of my knee and again ache (though that’s particular to my expertise with osteoarthritis and low again sprain — I’m not suggesting it as a treatment for anybody else’s points!). I would’ve apprehensive about how I’d work this into my days, and whether or not I’d keep it up, however now I’m extra apprehensive about what I’d do if it had been taken away.

Received questions? Wish to share the way you’ve upgraded your property workplace? Let’s hear it! —Kristen