5 Ways to Get Fit at the Office | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

5 Ways to Get Fit at the Office

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Leaving the convenience of the elevator behind will not only allow you to sneak in some exercise, but it will also grant you a few moments to yourself as you traverse the isolated stairway.
  • If you’re lucky enough to have your own office, then you can turn coffee breaks into fitness breaks.
  • While the below five tips are a perfect place to start, remember that the best road to overall physical fitness is to mix things up and to continue to challenge yourself.

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to exercise is definitely a fitness challenge.

Many business professionals have begun taking their workout routine into the office, which is not only a good way to achieve fitness goals while reducing workplace stress but can also lead to humorous encounters with your co-workers.

Every opportunity to sneak in a bit of a workout should be seized.

This doesn’t have to mean showing up early and utilizing the company gym, which usually seems to be woefully empty, perhaps due to the potential embarrassment of working up a sweat in front of your boss.

Very simple daily activities, such as choosing the farthest parking spot in the lot, can get your heart rate up.

For a bodyweight workout program that can be done from the office and that will help you reach your goals, sign up for a PRO plan today.

5 Easy and Office-Friendly Fitness Tips

Chuck the Chair

Although chair exercises can be very useful, a fitness ball takes things to a completely different level. It forces you to work on proper posture, while also guaranteeing the strengthening of your back muscles and abs.

All of which will be accomplished while you continue to sit on your butt all day!

As far as office exercises go, there’s really nothing more simple that you can incorporate into your daily routine. It’s also certain to garner a few laughs from your co-workers but laugh along with them.

After all, laughing does burn calories.

Stairs Aren’t Scary

Leaving the convenience of the elevator behind will not only allow you to sneak in some exercise, but it will also grant you a few moments to yourself as you traverse the isolated stairway.

When your co-workers ask you how you beat them to the meeting, just smile and your new fitness technique will remain both healthy and as a few stolen moments of tranquility.

Break for Fitness

If you’re lucky enough to have your own office, then you can turn coffee breaks into fitness breaks. Simply close the blinds and spend your break doing basic stretches and exercises.

Jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups and several more simplistic exercises can be easily accomplished inside the space of a typical office.

Before you begin your routine, make sure you lock the door and take your cell phone out of your pocket, lest you pocket dial someone in the office and allow everyone to hear the sounds of your exertion.

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Say Hello to a Neighbor

While some things must be sent through e-mail, there are several others that could also be delivered by hand.

From a fitness standpoint, the simple act of walking a document down the hall will ensure that you don’t spend the entire day sitting down.

Another benefit to this particular exercise tip is that it provides you with the potential for some quality face time with co-workers and supervisors.

At first, they may question why you’re the only person who isn’t relying on e-mail for everything but it may eventually serve to be one of the most important steps you ever take for your career.

The opportunity to discuss things face to face will keep your name in your supervisor’s mind when it’s time for promotions and raises.

Just make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of trying to engage them in too much small talk, as this may result in the opposite effect.

Cut the Wires

Bluetooth was made for a specific reason: to allow busy professionals the ability to walk around and drive while handling important phone calls.

In today’s world, however, most of your co-workers will continue to be seated at their desks while fielding a call through their Bluetooth.

Buck this trend by walking around during each call and you’ll receive the health benefits of not sitting for eight hours a day.

Watching Your Office Catch Up

Once your co-workers catch onto the benefits of your daily fitness tips, the jokes and occasional looks will begin to subside.

Soon, you can expect several of your co-workers to begin asking you for pointers on how they can fit exercise into their daily work routine.

Gone will be the potential embarrassment of having someone come around the corner and catch you doing a quick set of squats, as several people will begin doing the exact same thing.

As the office makes more of a shift towards physical fitness, you can offer to take the lead in discussing and demonstrating new office exercise techniques.

If you play your cards right, not only will you experience the healthy benefits of your new routine, but you’ll also catch the eye of those in upper management.

Remember that it’s always a good thing to showcase innovative thinking and, if all else fails, you can always drop a few words here and there about the positive impact that daily exercises will have on the company’s insurance bottom line.

Nothing says “promote this person” better than saving the company some money.

Implement New Methods Whenever Possible

While the above five tips are a perfect place to start, remember that the best road to overall physical fitness is to mix things up and to continue to challenge yourself.

Once your initial routine seems to be losing its effectiveness, increase the load and add in new techniques. Becoming stagnant will be just as damaging to your workout plan as it would be to never improve upon the quality of your office work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many days a week should I exercise?

Three to five workouts a week is recommended for best results.

How do I create my own workout plan?

You can either sign up for an Exercise.com PRO membership or enlist the help of a personal trainer!

What should I do on my rest days?

Sleep, hydrate, eat well, foam roll, and engage in enjoyable movement.

Variation is the key to success in all aspects of your life. Most importantly, remember that working out doesn’t have to be a chore. It can be a fun stress reliever that you’ll look forward to every day!

For access to workouts that can be done anywhere, sign up for an Exercise.com PRO plan today.

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