Get a Move On

Happy 2020! As we enter a new decade, Fitbit is committed to making the world healthier by helping people understand and change the foundational behaviors critical for good health: activity, nutrition, sleep and mindfulness. In other words, we’d like to help you help your population move more, eat better, sleep longer and stress less. 

Let’s start with something we can all benefit from: getting up and out of our chairs. Less sitting and more moving contributes to better health. A report in JAMA states that strong evidence demonstrates that regular physical activity has health benefits for everyone. The amount of physical activity we need to help combat our sedentary lifestyles is do-able--by just about anyone, and it can be fun, too. 

Use these four quick tips to help get employees more active at work:

1. Give sitting a break.

We can all benefit from a little nagging, even if it is automated. Encourage your employees to set movement reminders using an alarm or (my buzzer of choice) the Fitbit Hourly Activity function. My threshold is set at 250 steps per hour, and I have it calibrated to remind me to move hourly during the day and also on weekends (as a gentle reminder that regular movement doesn’t really need a day off).

2. Schedule meetings on the move.

When we exercise, blood flow increases everywhere in the body, including the brain. More blood means more energy and oxygen, which makes our brain perform better. If a project team has regular weekly gatherings, suggest that the group conducts the meeting while walking. Or try scheduling a meeting in a conference room on the other side of the office or campus. 

3. Launch Workout Wednesday.

Use this idea straight out of the Fitbit playbook. One of the most popular in-house programs at Fitbit is Workout Wednesday, where employees are invited to wear workout attire to the office and participate in office-wide workouts, such as yoga and Pilates, to encourage activity during the day.

4. Stand up for better health.

Give employees the option for a stand-up or standing desk. Models can vary, but essentially this is just a desk that allows employees to stand comfortably while working. Benefits can range from burning more calories to potentially reducing back pain. 

Get a move on, and have a happy, healthy new year!