In today’s culture, particularly with the rise in technology, we are spending increasing amounts of time sitting. Those in employment spend 60% of their waking hours in the workplace which can result in a sedentary lifestyle, particularly for those working in an office or that have a desk-based job. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines report on GOV.UK recommends breaking up long periods of sitting time with at least light activity.
Research shows that sitting less and moving more throughout the day leads to better health, increased motivation, improved concentration, more creativity and many more well-being and performance benefits.
Simple changes to your environment or work culture can make a big difference to employee wellbeing. See below for some simple ideas:
- Stand during phone calls
- Set a timer and take a break from your computer every 30 minutes
- Use the stairs more
- Arrange standing or walking meetings
- Eat your lunch away from your desk
- Walk to a colleague’s desk instead of phoning or emailing them
- Invest in a standing desk
- Schedule movement breaks into your day
- Try out Deskercise with your team
Other fun ways to be active at work
Local Step Count Challenges – Big Team Challenge
Step Count Challenges are a great incentive to get outdoors in the fresh air and explore our beautiful islands whilst keeping active with friends, colleagues and family. Healthy Shetland occasionally team up with the Big Team Challenge to run a local, fun and free step count challenge exclusively for Shetland residents. The time of year and duration of the challenge can vary. From our last challenge participants told us that they enjoyed completing it as part of a team, used it as a reason to meet up with friends, felt more energetic as a result of it and used it as a motive to keep walking. See infographic to see a summary of the last challenge we carried out.
Follow us on social media to keep informed when the next challenge will be!
Paths for All – Workplace Step Count Challenge
Paths for All run two challenges a year; in the spring and the autumn. The challenge is designed to help you walk more during your working day by logging your steps in teams of 5 and setting mini challenges and targets each week. For more info and to register visit Step Count Challenge | Paths for All
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