Workplace Wellness
Fit fitness in on the job.
In today’s hustle and bustle, most of our waking hours are spent at our place of work. And for many of us, this means spending the day sitting hunched over, staring at a screen.
But being sedentary—or barely moving—for long periods of time can have a seriously negative impact on our health: from weight gain and increased risk of cognitive decline to affecting our mood and even decreasing productivity.
That’s why we’re challenging employers and workers across Philly to promote regular physical activity in their workplace. Here are a few ways to fit fitness in during the work day:
Stair Climbing
Stair climbing is an easy way to burn calories and strengthen your bones, heart and lungs. But in a city whose biggest celebrity is a stairway, surprisingly few of our workplace stairs are easy to find. And when they are, sometimes they turn out to be dimly lit and downright creepy.
Download our StairWELL Toolkit (PDF) for ideas to make your workplace stairs more people-friendly and encourage your coworkers to get to steppin’.
Walking Meetings
There’s a reason why many of us get our best ideas while pacing—walking is proven to boost creativity. So take your next meeting out of the office and into the streets (or at least down the hall).
Walking meetings are a great way to improve collaboration and communication while increasing physical activity.
And there’s no need to wait to take a few extra steps—start a walking club like Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown or skip your next email and make the trek across the office to talk with your co-worker in person!
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown leading her Noonwalk group | Photograph by Gina Tomaine
The ‘At Work’ Workout
Check out this Washington Post article for 12 simple exercises that are perfect for the office. The best part: they’re rated on their level of difficulty, sweatiness, and humiliation.
A healthier you is definitely worth a few chuckles from co-workers—better yet, challenge them to join you.
Take a Movement Break
Even the busiest of us have at least five minutes to spare during the workday. So why not take a movement break to stand, stretch and do some light exercise? It can improve your mood and increase your focus.
And do we have the perfect video for you…Check out Philly Power Moves and follow along to Philly’s own signature movement break video. Click here for a step-by-step guide.
