Five Tips to Stay Active in the Office

More than 85 percent of today’s workforce sits for eight to ten hours each day at work. Add in commute time in a car or on the train and it’s no wonder so many of us live sedentary lifestyles. Stuck in our daily routines, we often leave work feeling tired and with some kind of physical pain. Breaking your routine and staying active at work can make a difference.

Research has shown that we’re not imagining the exhaustion or physical ailments that come with sitting at a desk all day. A growing number of people complain of work-related stress, problems focusing, and even physical problems such as leg disorders, carpal tunnel, and poor circulation due to a combination of lack of movement and inflexible desk arrangements.

Five Tips to Stay Active in the Office
 

1. Rearrange your office    

It’s convenient to keep everything in your office at an arm’s length but that won’t improve your activity level at work. Think of your office as a gym and rearrange your tasks and workflow so that you have to stand up and move around throughout your day.

2. Modify your workstation    

Ditch your office chair for LeanRite Elite sit-stand chair that lets you change positions throughout the day while encouraging a neutral spine and opportunities to build your core. Incorporate ergonomic products, like an adjustable-height desk, that also encourage movement. Include other ergonomic solutions when it comes to your keyboard and monitor height. If your company doesn’t have an ergonomist, you may be able to get advice and financial support from your human resources representative.

3. Change your commute    

If you live close enough to the office, walk or bike to work instead of driving or relying on public transportation. Even if you don't live close enough to apply this to the whole commute, park your car farther from the door than normal or skip the bus or rideshare and walk the final distance to the office whenever possible.

4. Schedule regular breaks    

It’s easy to get caught up in a project or a task during the workday. You may not even look up from your screen until your stomach lets you know you’ve missed lunch. Download the free Ergo Impact Healthy Workplace Reminder App to receive gentle reminders to move throughout the day. Take a minute to energize your muscles with the app’s recommended stretches. You can download the app even if you don’t have a LeanRite chair.

5. Take a stand    

An adjustable-height desk paired with the LeanRite Elite makes it easy to stand, lean, and perch throughout your day. Regardless of your current workstation setup, learn to recognize opportunities that don’t require you to be at your desk.

Which of these three options can you fit into your workday?
 

• Instead of emailing or calling a co-worker when you need to communicate, stand up and walk over to their desk.
• Swap a traditional conference for a walking or standing-only meeting; the meeting may go faster and no one will be accused of dozing off.
• Allot 10 to 15 minutes of your lunch break for a short walk. You can often manage to fit in close to a mile depending on your stride.

We want to help you reduce the negative impact of a sedentary lifestyle. Even a few simple steps (no pun intended) in the right direction can help. Awareness of harmful habits leads to efforts to incorporate healthier habits. Sit less - move more - live better; it’s the Ergo Impact way.