If you work a typical 9-to-5 job, you know how hard it can be to get motivated to hit the gym after a long workday. Sitting for long periods of time in sedentary environments, such as an office, can lead to health problems such as obesity.

But researchers at the University of Iowa have come up with a solution to incorporate low-intensity exercise into a normal workday with the help of a portable pedaling device that is placed underneath a desk. The employee sitting at the desk can pedal at the same time they are balancing a budget or writing an email. The researchers found that workers who had the device increased their daily physical activity, which led to fewer sick days.

To test the effectiveness of the device, researchers provided it to 27 overweight or obese office workers for 16 weeks. The pedaling time of each worker was recorded through an attached monitor. They found that, on average, employees pedaled 50 minutes each day. The employees were also sent emails three times a week providing them with tips on how to be active at work. The results showed that employees who previously engaged in no activity during the workday engaged in light-intensity physical activity after the pedaling device was installed. Seventy percent of the workers wanted to keep the device once the study was over.

The study authors believe small devices such as this could be a better alternative to expensive fitness facilities that some workplaces provide, because people who use those facilities are often already physically fit. The researchers suggest that “while you work exercise” is a better way to incorporate more activity into the daily routine of those who do not already exercise.

Sounds like multitasking at its finest.