--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest problem with working at a…" description: "\"The biggest problem with working at a treadmill desk: the compulsion to announce constantly that you are working at a treadmill desk.\" — Susan Orlean" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png" --- # The biggest problem with working at a treadmill desk: the… ![“The biggest problem with working at a treadmill desk: the compulsion to announce constantly that you are working at a treadmill desk.” quote by Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png) > “The biggest problem with working at a treadmill desk: the compulsion to announce constantly that you are working at a treadmill desk.” [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working at a treadmill desk creates a compulsive need to announce the novelty, undermining focus. **In simple terms:** Announcing the desk distracts from work. Key Takeaway Focus on work, not the novelty. Themes productivity distraction workplace culture Mood ironic observational Type humorous commentary When to use this quote - remote work - open‑plan offices - fitness‑focused workplaces Key Concepts social signaling novelty effect Questions to Reflect On - Why feel the need to broadcast work setup? - How does novelty affect productivity? A Different Perspective Constant self‑promotion can erode credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [ You might be \[outshining me in many ways\]. But if we get on a treadmill, there are two things: you're getting off first or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/you-might-be-outshining-me-in-many-ways-but-if-we-get-on-a-treadmill/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-be-more-talented-than-me-you-might-be-smarter-than-me-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of the time I meet my trainer at the gym and we do a lot of everything: weights circuit with cardio, football drills,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charisma-carpenter/most-of-the-time-i-meet-my-trainer-at-the-gym-and-we-do-a-lot-of/) [Charisma Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charisma-carpenter/) > [Approaching the treadmill I tell myself, 'Okay, it's just 10 minutes, after that you can get off the thing'. That's no time at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/approaching-the-treadmill-i-tell-myself-okay-it-s-just-10-minutes/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [You start out with an hour on the treadmill, then another hour of lifting - hell, in two weeks you're not doing anything anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-start-out-with-an-hour-on-the-treadmill-then-another-hour-of/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [I work out every morning. Only half an hour. I get on the treadmill. That's it. Every morning, I don't care what time. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/i-work-out-every-morning-only-half-an-hour-i-get-on-the-treadmill/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [I go the gym and I try to run on the treadmill and I listen to music but it doesn't motivate me enough. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-go-the-gym-and-i-try-to-run-on-the-treadmill-and-i-listen-to-music/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Is it sad that my first thought happened to be: Thank God I'm off the treadmill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/is-it-sad-that-my-first-thought-happened-to-be-thank-god-i-m-off-the/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [My first app was released in July or August of 2008. It was a 'fingermill' - a treadmill for your fingers. My level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-d-aloisio/my-first-app-was-released-in-july-or-august-of-2008-it-was-a/) [Nick D'Aloisio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-d-aloisio/) > [I used to go on runs, it's kind of hard for me now unfortunately in Paris because it's a little bit hectic. My knees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/i-used-to-go-on-runs-it-s-kind-of-hard-for-me-now-unfortunately-in/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [I don't like to think that I'm on a treadmill of album, tour, promotion and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-don-t-like-to-think-that-i-m-on-a-treadmill-of-album-tour-promotion/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [I know how I get hard. Running on a treadmill behind women in a gym normally does it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/i-know-how-i-get-hard-running-on-a-treadmill-behind-women-in-a-gym/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I'm making little changes in my life to take care of myself, like putting in a mile or two on my treadmill every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-deen/i-m-making-little-changes-in-my-life-to-take-care-of-myself-like/) [Paula Deen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-deen/) > [Instead of running for President, why don’t you try walking on a treadmill?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-ross/instead-of-running-for-president-why-don-t-you-try-walking-on-a/) [Jeff Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-ross/) > [When you step on the treadmill, make a commitment. Do, say, 3 miles a day. And don't get off until you finish. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrese-gibson/when-you-step-on-the-treadmill-make-a-commitment-do-say-3-miles-a-day/) [Tyrese Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrese-gibson/) ## More by Susan Orlean > [I've used Twitter now and again to try to figure something out; it's an amazing resource. But I think you have to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-ve-used-twitter-now-and-again-to-try-to-figure-something-out-it-s/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [Who on earth is going to use 'utilize' in a text message, a whopping seven characters including the always-hard-to-type 'z,' when you can say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/who-on-earth-is-going-to-use-utilize-in-a-text-message-a-whopping/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [When my son was born, and after a day of lying-in I was told that I could leave the hospital and take him home,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/when-my-son-was-born-and-after-a-day-of-lying-in-i-was-told-that-i/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I'm happy to be reminded that an ordinary day full of nothing but nothingness can make you feel like you've won the lottery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-happy-to-be-reminded-that-an-ordinary-day-full-of-nothing-but/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I once had a boyfriend who couldn't write unless he was wearing a necktie and a dress shirt, which I thought was really weird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-once-had-a-boyfriend-who-couldn-t-write-unless-he-was-wearing-a/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [“I, too, had set out to be remembered. I had wanted to create something permanent in my life- some proof that everything in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-too-had-set-out-to-be-remembered-i-had-wanted-to-create-something/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I think of myself as something of a connoisseur of procrastination, creative and dogged in my approach to not getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-think-of-myself-as-something-of-a-connoisseur-of-procrastination/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I'm very excited about my new Spotify account, which gives me access to twenty gazillion songs any time, all the time. The day I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-m-very-excited-about-my-new-spotify-account-which-gives-me-access/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I approach stories as a private educational enterprise: I want to learn about something. I teach myself through research, reporting, and thinking, and then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-approach-stories-as-a-private-educational-enterprise-i-want-to/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [We're fascinated by animals because it's almost like having Martians living among us. We can see some familiarity in them, but they're entirely different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/we-re-fascinated-by-animals-because-it-s-almost-like-having-martians/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [My inspiration is really very simple: I'm struck by things that I want to know more about. I really do react just as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-inspiration-is-really-very-simple-i-m-struck-by-things-that-i-want/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I am dismayed to realize that much of the advice I used to parcel out to aspiring writers has passed its sell-by date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-am-dismayed-to-realize-that-much-of-the-advice-i-used-to-parcel-out/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [I wish I had coined the phrase 'tyranny of choice,' but someone beat me to it. The counterintuitive truth is that have an abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/i-wish-i-had-coined-the-phrase-tyranny-of-choice-but-someone-beat-me/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-ace-in-the-hole-as-a-human-being-used-to-be-my-capacity-for/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [Sometimes I think I've figured out some order in the universe, but then I find myself in Florida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/sometimes-i-think-i-ve-figured-out-some-order-in-the-universe-but/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) [Explore all 179 Susan Orlean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) ## More Compulsion quotes > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I think it's in our nature to try to get beyond that next horizon. I think that when we as a species are scratching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-howard/i-think-it-s-in-our-nature-to-try-to-get-beyond-that-next-horizon-i/) [Ron Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-howard/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [Why am I always at war with myself? Why have I told, as if upon compulsion, what I knew all along I ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/why-am-i-always-at-war-with-myself-why-have-i-told-as-if-upon/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [It is true that the virtues which are less esteemed and practiced now--independence, self-reliance, and the willingness to bear risks, the readiness to back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/it-is-true-that-the-virtues-which-are-less-esteemed-and-practiced-now/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [Not merely by rules of conduct and religious observances, nor by much learning either, nor even by attainment of concentration, nor by sleeping alone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/not-merely-by-rules-of-conduct-and-religious-observances-nor-by-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started off like everyone else does, slogging but having a compulsion to put words on paper. I didn't write or read horror or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-started-off-like-everyone-else-does-slogging-but-having-a/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I have with me two gods, Persuasion and Compulsion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/themistocles/i-have-with-me-two-gods-persuasion-and-compulsion/) [Themistocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/themistocles/) > [When you are dealing with a serious compulsion or addictive pattern, then by definition self-will, self-discipline, and any other machinations of the conscious mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-you-are-dealing-with-a-serious-compulsion-or-addictive-pattern/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 513 Compulsion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest problem with working at a treadmill desk: the compulsion to announce constantly that you are working at a treadmill desk.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Orlean" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-treadmill-desk-the-compulsion/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compulsion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-treadmill-desk-the-compulsion/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ce/susan-orlean-2207_compulsion_the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-tr_2823581.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The biggest problem with working at a treadmill desk: the compulsion to announce constantly that you are…” — Susan Orlean", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Susan Orlean", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The biggest problem with working at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-treadmill-desk-the-compulsion/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/the-biggest-problem-with-working-at-a-treadmill-desk-the-compulsion/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```