Feb 26th 2020
Is sitting down at your desk all day really that bad for your health?
We’ve done the research on why we should try to be healthier at work….
The statistics:
- 40% of Brits spend just 15 minutes outdoors each day, a further 22% spend only 30 minutes a day outside, this is less than prisoners who are required to spend at least one hour outside every day.
- 41% of British workers don’t take regular screen breaks.
- UK office workers spend up to 85% of their work time sat down
- 70,000 deaths in the UK a year may be caused by sedentary lifestyle
- Physical inactivity if the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality according to the World Health Organisation. Sedentary behaviour has been associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes and musculoskeletal problems.
How we can improve our health at work:
- Choose a height adjustable desk – reducing sitting time by choosing a sit/stand desk has been shown to reduce upper back and neck pain by 54% and improve mood states (NHS study).
- Standing desks also have the ability to reduce tiredness among workers and boost productivity.
- A recent Australian study found that standing desks could boost life expectancy by reducing the risk of conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Take regular screen breaks – a recent study of 1,300 British workers recently found that those who took regular breaks are 10% more productive and make 12% fewer mistakes
- Join a yoga class with your colleagues – 88% of British adults believe yoga reduces stress.
- Use an on-site office gym for motivation – 3.7 miles if the maximum distance people are prepared to travel to a gym to encourage five or move visits a month.
- Try a kick-boxing class – a person can burn an average of 1000 calories per hour in a kick-boxing class. An hours spin class can burn up to 600 calories.
- Start a work running club – 89% of UK runners say regular running made them happier.
- BE Offices are pleased to offer height adjustable desk as standard at some of our centres.
- We’ve also introduced yoga classes in certain centres.
- We are starting a running club in March in Farringdon with a qualified coach.
- Most of our business centres have onsite gyms which are for the exclusive use of clients.
- We provide a personal trainer at specified City of London centres who is free for clients.
- At our Threadneedle Street centre we have a dedicated spinning room and put on weekly spinning classes.
- We actively encourage time away from your desk with generous breakout spaces, roof terraces and lounge areas.
