Standing Desk? Psh, Try a Hamster Wheel

First, there's the standing desk—a unique concept for those used to parking their bottoms in an office chair for eight hours a day. Then there's the treadmill desk (see slideshow below)—a helpful alternative for those who want to add a little fitness to their standing routine, but a setup that might be a bit inconvenient depending on the amount of space one has to work with.

Assuming you have a lot more space to work with, you might want to give this brand-new concept a try: the hamster-wheel desk. No, it's not something you can actually purchase. However, if you're a DIY enthusiast, then Robb Godshaw has provided all the instructions for how you might be able to make one of your own via Instructables.

"You are not reaching your current productivity potential. Numerous esteemed experts agree that standing is better than sitting and that walking is better than standing. Despite this, your workplace only provides inhumane chairs and stagnant standing desks for you to use while you struggle to get through a workday full of distractions and bodily pains," describes Godshaw, who collaborated with Instructables developer Will Doenlen on the project.

"Rise up, sedentary sentients, and unleash that untapped potential within by marching endlessly towards a brilliant future of focused work. Step forward into a world of infinite potential, bounded only by the smooth arcs of a wheel. Step forward into the Hamster Wheel Standing Desk that will usher in a new era of unprecedented productivity."

According to Godshaw's description, the wheel is an 80-inch diameter circle that runs on a two-foot-wide base. Within the base are four skateboard wheels, which allow the wheel to spin in a circle as you walk within it.

Just to make sure all the measurements worked out, Godshaw and Doenlen designed the giant hamster wheel within Autodesk Inventor—even going so far as to use a tiny human model for scale to ensure that their creation wasn't going to adversely affect their noggins when they went to step into it. It only took the team 24 hours to build the wheel, and the parts list is a lot smaller than you might think: plywood, skate wheels, pipes, a ton of wood screws, some glue, and "a good attitude."

That said, the hamsters did have access to a waterjet for cutting. If you're just sporting a hand saw, you might find your manufacturing time extended a bit. Also, five people worked on the wheel for "several hours." If you're a hamster team of one, don't expect the process to go that quickly.