Exercising at the office

There is no doubt that working full time and dealing with all the responsibilities that are involved with family and personal lives can bring on stress. Work environments themselves can be great generators of stress and fatigue. To combat this, many people have begun exercising at work.

Here are four easy ways to exercise while at work.

1. Park in a stall furthest from where you enter the building.This provides you with some great walking exercise to get to and from your car.If you live within a decent distance from your job you could walk or ride your bike to work as well.Individuals that participate in riding or walking to work find that they have an initial energy boost to start their day off. Instead of dragging into work and needing that morning cup of coffee their body has released adrenaline from exercise providing that energy boost to get the morning started off right. Those that walk / ride home from work have also reported that it improves their family relationships as it provides them with time to decompress and think as they travel home without the worries of crashing into another car or the stresses that exist with rush hour traffic. Make sure you calculate how much time you need and possibly leave a little earlier so you don't end up late. That only causes more stress and defeats the purpose.


2. Use the stairs. If you work in a building with multiple levels - use the stairs every chance you get. While the elevator may seem faster your body will appreciate the exercise and it will help to rejuvenate you in the middle of the day.


3. Do desk exercises. There are hundreds of exercises that can be done simply sitting at your desk. Taking just a few moments to relax and take a breath does wonders. Take 5 minutes and do a few stretching exercises like leg stretches; neck stretches, and back stretches. Make sure you stand up every 45 minutes and stretch your muscles. Don't forget about your eye muscles, close them for 5 minutes and focus on the darkness and your breathing.


4. Find excuses to get up. Take a minute and walk to a water fountain to get a drink instead of always having a water bottle right at your desk. Take messages to fellow employees in person instead of always using email. Taking just those few minutes here and there throughout the day to allow your body to stretch and move allows your blood to flow and your body to stay rejuvenated and not end up stiff or fatigued.

Some larger corporations even provide lunchtime yoga or tai chi classes or a company gym to allow employees to exercise while on lunch breaks, before or after work. Experts agree that one best way to manage stress is through exercise. Exercise has been proven to relax the body and mind, burn fat, improve cardiovascular system, bring in more oxygen, reduce the chance of diseases, lower blood pressure and the list goes on. Exercise can also improve self-esteem and self worth by realizing that you are benefit directly. You may feel more outgoing and social because of the increased energy and also a better physique creating more confidence and positive self image. Your self-esteem may be enhanced by taking on exercise challenges or goals, giving you a feeling of accomplishment and reward.

Helping your employees to feel healthy improves productivity, job satisfaction and company loyalty.It increases employee morale, keeps employees healthier which in turn reduces the number of sick leave days taken. These benefits provide a non-monetary benefit to companies' that helps to make them more successful.