From office chair to active care 

Small ways to move more at work

Staying active at work can help your body and mind feel good. Moving more during the day can make you feel happier, calmer and more awake. Even small bursts of activity count and help you reach your physical activity goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that moving more and sitting less can offer many health benefits, such as a better mood and lower stress.

One simple way to stay active is to stand up often. When you stand up every hour, you stretch your legs and your back feels better. You can also walk around the room or do a few stretches at your desk. You could take a short walk at lunch. Even a few minutes of walking helps your body move more and makes the day go by faster. Rutgers University has easy ways to move and walk during short breaks at work.

Another fun way to be active at work is to turn some tasks into movement. For example, walk to a coworker’s desk instead of sending an email. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when you can. You could have walking meetings with friends at work or talk on the phone while you walk around. Little choices like these help your step count add up.

If you work on a computer, try light exercises during your breaks. You can do shoulder rolls, leg lifts, gentle stretches or march in place for a few minutes. These moments of movement give your muscles a break and help your mind stay fresh.

Staying active at work does not mean long workouts. It means finding small ways to move more each day. Little steps add up to significant benefits for your health.