Office workers spend as much as five years of their working lives sitting behind a desk. It’s easy to figure out that’s a lot of time being inactive.
With most office workers sedentary at their desks for up to nine hours or more every day, it’s vital to do something to counteract the detrimental physical effects this lifestyle has on the body. Simply heading to the gym once a day won’t reverse the negative side effects of such extended static periods, so what can you do to offset them?
Here are some tips on how to refresh your office:
- The study ‘Make it Green‘ found that having household plants around the office improved employees’ moods and increased their productivity by as much as 15%.
- Introducing standing desks not only makes the office trendy, but they can burn up to 52,000 calories per year for each user. Additionally, a recent study found that standing at a desk increases productivity by a staggering 46%.
- Mix it up: if you hold meetings on Mondays change it up—move the day or time, take the meeting outdoors, alter the pattern somehow. Breaking up routine encourages staff to change the way they act and think, encouraging creativity. An outdoor meeting is more informal and can help generate new ideas.
The Varidesk Pro Plus 36 is a great standing desk that just slots onto your current desk, allowing you to go from sit to stand in under three seconds. Varidesk also has a free-to-use app to remind you to stand throughout the day. Desks start from as little as £150.
