Mental Health Awareness Week 2024: Movement

Harnessing Movement: Elevating Mental Health in the Workplace

Within the bustling world of modern work culture, mental health awareness has evolved from a mere buzzword to a meaningful focal point. As the UK observes Mental Health Awareness Week, the spotlight is shifting towards an often overlooked but effective strategy: movement. In a realm where sedentary jobs often reign supreme, integrating movement into the workplace emerges not only as a physical necessity but as a powerful tool in nurturing mental wellbeing.

Why do physical activity and movement have such a strong influence on our mental equilibrium? Science offers a captivating description. Physical activity releases endorphins, which are miraculous neurotransmitters eminent for their euphoric properties. These endorphins, also known as the body's natural mood elevators, flood our system during exercise, giving us a sense of satisfaction and decreasing stress and anxiety levels.

Research supports the importance of physical activity in mental health. Regular exercise has been demonstrated to lower stress levels and increase our bodies' ability to withstand stress through physiological and biochemical processes. Moreover, literature has also suggested the importance of physical activity in the workplace. Physical activity at the workplace leads to decreased anxiety, improved psychosocial wellbeing and sleep. Another study indicated that physical activity at the workplace is linked with decreased anxiety, depression, and stress and better general wellbeing in the employees. Thus, including movement in our workday habits can therefore be beneficial.

Although individual efforts to incorporate movement into daily work routines, such as taking the stairs, walking or cycling to work, and enjoying lunch outdoors, are essential, it is critical to acknowledge the significance of administrative-level initiatives in fostering long-lasting change in employees' workplace lifestyles.

However, how can the workplace transform into a haven for movement and a mental health retreat? Learning and Development practitioners, HR, and Health and Safety professionals are responsible for leading this revolutionary path. Companies can foster a culture that supports mobility by incorporating it into everyday tasks. One way to add energy and vitality to the workday is to organise short stretching sessions during breaks, implement standing workstations, or even encourage walking meetings.

Furthermore, the emergence of remote work opens up new possibilities for integrating mobility into the workplace. Virtual fitness competitions, wellness webinars with exercises that can be done at a desk, or gamified applications that reward movement can all help close the physical distance between employees and bring the energy of physical activity into the digital sphere.

However, physical activity and movement's importance goes beyond simple physical exertion; it represents a fundamental paradigm change in favour of holistic wellbeing. By cultivating a work environment that values mobility, companies demonstrate their dedication to supporting their workers' mental and physical wellbeing.

As the theme for Mental Health Awarness Week this year in movement, it represents the perfect opportunity to consider how increasing activity levels in your working day can positively impact on mental health for yourself and for others.

Sources:

“Happy feet”: evaluating the benefits of a 100-day 10,000 step challenge on mental health and wellbeing. Hallam, Bilsborough & Courten, BMC Psychiatry volume 18 (2018)

Moving minds: Mental health and wellbeing benefits of a 50-day workplace physical activity program. Hallam, Peeters, Gupta & Bilsborough 2022

Exercise and Mental Health, Maturitas, Mikkelsen, et al. 2017

Association between physical exercise and mental health in 1.2 million individuals in the USA between 2011 and 2015: a cross sectional study. The Lancet Psychiatry. SR Chekroud et.al. 2018

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