Work Smarter

When we get busy, it’s hard not to let our physical fitness slip. We see movement as a nice-to-have, rather than a necessity. Let’s change that! Most of us spend upwards of 10 hours a day being sedentary, and breaking up this inactivity is critical for a healthy, happy and productive workday.¹

Movers are shakers

People who are regularly active are consistently more productive after seven hours of work than those who aren’t.⁴ They have better executive function, clearer minds, more confidence, better memory, enhanced concentration, greater creativity and feel less stressed. Research shows that some of the most productive employees take, on average, a 17-minute break for every 52 minutes of work⁵.

If performing better, feeling better and being happier with your job isn’t enough⁶, consider this: a sedentary lifestyle also puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer, depression and musculoskeletal injury⁷.

Here’s how:

To fit physical activity into your busy workday calendar, consider the following ideas:

• Get active on your lunch hour with a brisk walk or wheel, or a yoga or Pilates session.
• Consider taking meetings on-the-move, walking or rolling.
• Split up long periods of sedentary time with a movement break and invite colleagues or family members to join.
• Take calls standing, pacing, shifting and stretching.
• Join an after-work sports league with your colleagues to help build an active culture.
• In lieu of client meetings over a meal or drinks, get active together to build relationships.