ASICS enlists angry Brian Cox to highlight how dangerous your desk can be for your mental health
New research of 26,000 participants shows how important exercise is for office workers, confirming that working behind a desk all the time can have a major impact on your mental health.
A new study commissioned by ASICS, called ‘State of mind‘, has shown that there is “a strong link between sedentary behavior and mental well-being, with State of Mind scores decreasing the longer people remain inactive.”
We all know that sitting behind a desk can get pretty tiring and draining after a while, but how bad is the problem? It turns out it’s pretty bad. The study concluded that “after just two hours of continuous desk work, State of Mind scores start to decline and stress levels start to rise.”
And after four hours of uninterrupted desk work, workers’ stress levels rose by nearly 20%. But help is at hand, thanks to a new Desk Break experiment.
15 minutes of exercise is all it takes
Dr Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London conducted a study into the impact of exercise on the mental wellbeing of office workers. Participants took five-minute exercise breaks daily and 15 minutes of exercise after three to four hours of work.
After just one week of movement breaks, State of Mind scores increased by over 22%, with confidence increasing and anxiety and perceived stress levels dropping by double digits. It’s not just a feel-good factor either. Just 15 minutes of movement during the workday increased productivity by a whopping one-third and focus by over 28%.
“We’ve previously shown that just 15 minutes of leisure time movement can result in meaningful improvements in people’s State of Mind scores,” Dr Stubbs concluded. “But what surprised us with the Desk Break experiment was how powerful the 15-minute movement breaks were in improving wellbeing and reducing stress. It even changed people’s perceptions of their workplace for the better.”
If those numbers are too much to handle after a long day at the office, just watch ASICS’ new public service announcement, “The Desk Break,” starring an angry Brian Cox. (Above)
ASICS is calling on office workers around the world to take a Desk Break for their mental health. Luckily, there’s plenty of technology available to help you get a head start.
One of the best standing desks on the market can help with mobility, posture, and overall activity, but part of taking a desk break is stepping away from your workstation to clear your mind. Many of the best smartwatches on the market, like the Apple Watch Series 10, come with built-in “time to stand” reminders that can remind you to stand up and stretch your legs.
During your lunch break, why not use Garmin Connect to go for a brisk 25-minute walk or a lunchtime run? You could even try Hugh Jackman’s 7-Minute Workout (preferably twice) or a quick Apple Fitness Plus activity. You’ll also reap some benefits from having a treadmill under your desk, which can be handy during calls, meetings or workouts, but remember to step away from your screen every now and then, too.
