With more people working from home, it is a good time to look at your office design. When I started organizing in 2006 I learned about organizing efficient offices so you didn’t waste time away from your desk. Starting in 2014 new research was telling us to organize offices to help you be active. Stand up, sit less and move more. Click To Tweet
Even the most well-designed office can make you feel chained to your desk. Make sure that you can get up and take a walk occasionally, or maybe move to a secondary location where you get a little work done without sitting in the same place all day.
Organize an Active Workstation
An active office has a standing area, sitting desk and whiteboard
Stand up Sit less Move more
An active office is defined “as a workplace design concept that proposes an integrated supportive environment, which aims at the reduction of sedentary behaviors and promotion of physically active work processes that are characterized by regular changes between different work-related tasks, workstations, and working postures.” Try adding to your traditional desk, elements such as active seats, standing desks, and whiteboards to help you get moving.
Products that make your office active
Use an exercise ball as your chair. You constantly contract and release muscle tension to help your balance. This muscle contraction helps you to be more active and less sedentary.
Invest in a sit stand desk. They are very economical and allow you to transition from sitting to standing as you change the type of work you are doing. It is the transition from sitting to standing and standing to sitting every 30 minutes that give you the health benefits associated with an active office design.
Make a larger investment and buy a treadmill desk. It allows you to walk while working.
There are many more products you can use in your office.
Health benefits of an active office design
Studies are showing that it is transitioning from one position to another that is good for your health; it activates muscle contraction and circulation.
Studies suggest that transitions between sitting and standing be made every 30 minutes.
This is a link to a great article http://mi-lab.org/files/2012/02/ActiveOffice-final.pdf
If you need a virtual presentation on this topic for your staff that is working from home, contact me.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She enjoys working with her clients to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situation. She reduces clutter, streamlines processes and manages time to help her clients be more effective in reaching their goals. Julie can coach you to break-free of the physical or emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
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