We also know the mostly sedentary lifestyles we lead are not particularly good for our physical or mental health. But it’s not just “not particularly good” – it’s actually quite risky and can open us up to a variety of health challenges.
Sitting has been labeled the new smoking for good reason. According to the Australian health network Better Health Channel:
“If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you have a higher chance of being overweight, developing type 2 diabetes or heart disease, and experiencing depression and anxiety.”
It can seem like a huge challenge, and a potentially expensive one, to make changes in your workplace to support physical and mental health. It’s clear that everyone, staff and leaders, are happier and work better when their bodies are healthy. There’s more energy to commit to a job you love when you’re not dealing with chronic pain or illness. So you want your employees to love their jobs and be physically healthy, too.
3 Simple Ways to Make Your Office Healthier
Overhauling the entire office to upgrade to the latest and greatest workplace wellness trends may be desirable, but it’s probably not feasible. You can start the shift to a healthier workspace with a few simple ergonomic changes that will go a long way towards helping you and your staff stay healthy.
1. Promote More Movement with Standing Desks
2. Invest In High Quality Chairs
If you have to pick only one type of ergonomic furniture to invest in, it should be high quality chairs. A good chair will have several options for adjustment to support your legs and back. You may be spending more time in your office chair than you do anywhere else and the comfort of your chair directly affects your productivity and health. A good ergonomic office chair will help you maintain a proper posture for longer periods of time, reducing back pain and creating a more comfortable working environment.
3. Energize Your Staff With Organization
Productivity starts with being organized. Employees can spend hours looking for things in their office and it has an impact on mental wellbeing as well. Being organized doesn’t have to be stressful. Having adequate storage available is important to keep everything, from papers to pens, coats to electronics, where it belongs and easily accessible. If an item is put in its place every time, you’ll waste much less time looking for it when you need it.
Bonus Tip: Better Options for Less
Ergonomic office furniture, including standing desks and adjustable chairs, from Envirotech creates happy and healthy employees. They have the added bonus of being good for the environment because they’re refurbished or remanufactured, which also makes them good for your wallet. Envirotech’s furniture options consume 80-95% less energy than brand new production, and can be 20-60% less than the cost of brand new. Happier staff equals a happier planet!