The Importance of incorporating exercise at work for overall health and wellbeing

Prioritising health and wellbeing in today’s fast paced work environments can be difficult to navigate. However, it is important to encourage movement and exercise in our daily routine to boost our physical and mental health, ultimately enhancing overall wellbeing and productivity. Let’s explore the benefits of physical activity, highlighting strategies to integrate movement in the workplace and share some key exercises to encourage these principles.

A sedentary lifestyle can significantly impact the workplace, affecting employees' metabolism, posture, and overall physical and mental health. This lifestyle can lead to conditions such as obesity, musculoskeletal injuries, and cardiovascular diseases, which can result in increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and higher healthcare costs for the organisation.

Benefits of exercise for physical and mental health:

1. Improved muscle and bone health through resistance and aerobic exercises to manage weight and reduce risk of chronic diseases.
2. Enhanced mood and cognitive function through the release of endorphins, which can alleviate stress and increase workplace productivity.
3. Improved mobility and flexibility to improve posture and reduce muscular tightness, that can develop due to a sedentary lifestyle.

Strategies to integrate movement in the workplace:

1. Regular and active breaks: encourage employees to take an active break every hour which includes a short walk or light exercises.
2. Ergonomic workstations: implement ergonomic workstations to support good posture and include sit to stand desks to reduce prolonged sitting.
3. Organise active team events: incorporate movement in meetings and at team events to promote healthier lifestyles and positively boost workplace culture.

Simple daily exercises to incorporate into the workplace:

Wall Angels

Poor posture can lead to rounded shoulders, which may cause the chest muscles to tighten. Performing wall angels can help lengthen chest, spinal and trunk muscles to keep your shoulders pulled back and reduce neck and shoulder pain.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Prolonged sitting can shorten the hip flexor muscles, which can increase tightness around the hip. The hip flexor stretch can help lengthen these muscles to improve hip and lower back mobility.

Chin Tucks

A forward head posture may develop due to poor postural habits e.g. from leaning towards a computer screen for long periods of time. Chin tucks can help strengthen the neck muscles to realign the spine and reduce pain in the neck and shoulders.

By prioritising health and wellbeing, workplaces can foster a healthier and happier work environment. Improvements in overall physical and mental health will enhance productivity and create a supportive environment for employees.