Will business be more successful if people sit-less?
How well-being at work leads to success & why it starts with the body
By Isobel Sutherland
“But I don’t have the time to move around whilst I’m working - I’m just too busy!”
is a sentence we often hear a lot from employees in a variety of different workplaces. We are here to remind you that time isn’t necessary, if you’re in tune with your body and have an awareness of how it works, you can engage in light movement that will NOT wate your time AND still provide you with some amazing health benefits. Facciocose’s corporate training will teach you exactly how to become more in tune and aware of your body.
As I’m sure we all know, humans were not made to be sedentary. When our body stops moving, our brains don’t actually function at their maximum capacity. Our brains are problem-solving, resolution finding muscles that simply lose their ability to problem solve and resolution find when our bodies don’t move. This is an example of embodied cognition which basically means states of the body modify states of the mind. Facciocose’s corporate training is embedded in embodied cognition scientific theory.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
Embodied cognition suggests that when the body is active, so is the mind. It goes without saying that the benefits of an active mind when at work are enormous. An active mind also produces an organised, productive, efficient and healthy mind too - all absolutely essential in a work environment. By adding just a little movement into our day promotes blood flow, circulation and activates our muscles.
Light movement also releases endorphins and endocannabinoids which are neurotransmitters that reduce anxiety and help us feel connected. The positive effects of endocannabinoids are doubled when humans interact and move together as a group in unison. For example, taking part in a group exercise class or something similar. The reduction of anxiety in a workplace is always a good thing. And the feeling of connectedness amongst employees certainly does lead to stronger team players who are able to work more collaboratively to meet targets and achieve success at work.
DID YOU KNOW?
This notion of sedentary people not being as healthy as people who move around more has been around for centuries. For example, in a workplace context dating as far back as the 17th century, physician Bernardino Ramazini, noted that tailors (who sat as they worked) were not as healthy as messengers who walked while they worked. Centuries later, a landmark study named The Lancet published in the 1950s showed that cardiovascular disease was less common and much less severe amongst active postmen than it was amongst sedentary telephone operators.
Practising Yoga, meditation and mindful techniques whilst at work has been scientifically proven to reduce workplace stress and anxiety.
The exercising at work and self-reported performance study, published in 2008, highlighted that 72% of employees reported that they had completed their workload on days when they moved their bodies. Exercise is proven to reduce stress and battle fatigue which in turn leads to fewer work absences because people are feeling healthy. Not only does movement do all of these wonderful things - it also stimulates the hippocampus region of the brain which supports memory and that all-important problem solving ability which we know is a vital skill whilst working.
The need for movement at work is crucial and bosses all over the world are beginning to recognise this. It’s reflected in companies such as Google who have dedicated office gyms for their staff and Nike offering movement and Yoga class for their employees. Movement at work is a win-win situation for all with individuals feeling a lift in their mood and employers having to deal with fewer absences and more efficient teams with an improved concentration span.
Here you can see a member of staff in their workplace using a standing up desk. This person works for an organisation that is clearly invested in improving well-being for their employees. This is because standing up desks encourage light intensity movement which is good for general health but standing up desks are also unique in that they reactivate the metabolism and promote physical health and well-being.
Whilst meditation requires us to be still, Yoga encourages us to move our bodies. When you move your body, especially in unison, with a group of people, it releases endocannabinoids which is a neurotransmitter that helps us feel connected.
FEW FINAL TIPS FOR YOU
So we understand that humans were not made to be still and we recognise the health benefits of moving and being active, especially for those people who sit for 7+ hours a day (sitting becomes a health risk when it exceeds 7 hours). BUT, you might be wondering how you can engage in light intensity activity whilst working when you simply do not have the time?!
We really encourage you to adopt a sit less, move more philosophy into your work day. And if time is not on your side, you don’t need to worry. We ask you to think about tiny things you can do to foster this philosophy into your working day. For example:
The options are both simple and endless - our corporate training will teach you everything you need to know.
We really hope that you’ll consider the possibility of taking part in Facciocose’s corporate training for your team. As you can tell from this blog, our training is unique in that it is rooted in movement and grounded by science with a strong focus on well-being and self-care.
If, after reading this article, you’re still unsure whether you have the time to move around whilst working, we invite you to reflect on this quote said by the Dalai Lama
