The Physical and Mental Health Benefits from Moving Regularly

Over the past few years the working landscape has significantly evolved which has enabled flexible working environments and a significant promotion of hybrid and work from home opportunities. Whilst employers providing flexibility has quickly become an essential for employees and provided so many positive outcomes, there are some challenges this new way of working to consider. 

Some of these challenges include the physical ergonomic set up for some work from home offices. Not all households were set up for work from home offices and in some instances needing to accomodate a number of people in the same house working from home, often sending a member to the kitchen table or other impromptu offices. The physical set up can also be composed with other elements such as screen setups, lighting and chairs. 

With working from home on the rise we have also seen a significant decrease in general mobility and step count through the day. Working from home reduced the incidental walking that you may encounter with travel, collaborating with colleagues or attending meetings through the day. People are often stationary at the desk for long periods and missing the general movement you may experience in the office. 

The benefits of regular movement are not only limited to those working from home, there are many health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle which can be experienced with long periods of sitting when in an office . These health risks from people who sit for long periods throughout the day with little activity include; cardiovascular disease, diabetes type II, hypertension/high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low back pain and neck pain. 

Melanie launched The Good Move drawing upon her experience working as a physiotherapist, clinical pilates instructor and more recently workplace injury managment. The Good Move is a series of short pilates based videos that are designed to promote regular movement and include office friendly options. The benefits of regular movement throughout the day decreased the health risks associated with sedentary behaviour. There are also mental health benefits by having brain breaks and resetting through out the day. 

Employers offering this services as a health and wellbeing benefit for their employees is ensuring their employee benefits are also in line with hybrid working by being an online service. The importance of health and well-being is essential to ensure we keep employees engaged, reduce the incidence of workplace injuries associates with sustained posture and sitting and also promote the mental health benefits from regular exercise.