Don’t take the work day sitting down
Sitting, according to some studies, is the new smoking. For the most part we really don’t have a choice in the matter. After all, office workers spend the majority of the eight hours of the day sitting at a desk in front of a computer. That doesn’t count sitting during the commute to and from work. And because we have worked so hard during the week, our weekends are for relaxing and, you guessed it , more sitting.
Many of us use fitness tracking devices that monitor our steps, workout time, and even time spent standing. For those of you that have them, take a look at and add up how many hours during the day you are moving, standing or exercising and you might be surprised to find that on average you are only moving about three to three-and-a-half hours a day.
Alternative workstations
Thankfully, many companies are starting to take notice and investing in products that encourage their employees to stand and move more during the day. Two such products are elevated desktops and treadmill desks.
Companies use the elevated desktops as an inexpensive and simple but effective way to encourage their employees to stand while working. This increased movement can help their workers to be more productive, alert, and less likely to crash during that dreaded post-lunch time of day. Companies also appreciate the ease of installation of these desktops. It’s as simple as unpacking the desktop from their box and placing them on top of an existing desk. Ample space is available for computer monitors, note pads, and keyboards.
Some people don’t like to exercise and those who do may not have the time to head down to the office gym (if there is one) or go to the gym either before or after work. For people looking to incorporate more movement into their day, a treadmill desk offers a great solution. Treadmill desks are a little bit more involved in that they require a dedicated space within the office and require a professional installation and setup. Employers tend to put these in areas that are easily accessible during the workday and users can either sign up for a specified time or, depending on the number of employees, use it as it’s available. Typically, the treadmills won’t go much past three to four miles per hour and a good model will allow for electronic elevation control of the desk to accommodate for different body sizes, as well as electric and ethernet ports for laptop charging and connectivity.
Human bodies are meant to be in motion but in today’s society of convenience, it is easy for us to fall into a sedentary mode. By incorporating more movement during the day we can enjoy a host of positive benefits, including better mood, increased energy, and better sleep. For employers, this increased movement has positive effects on job performance and creativity, reduces absenteeism and creates an overall happier environment.
David Ramsey is the commercial sales manager for Precision Fitness Equipment, a major supplier of commercial and residential fitness equipment in New England. He’s also been a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and holds a marketing degree from the University of Rhode Island.
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