In recent years, workplace wellness has evolved significantly, particularly in addressing the physical side of employee well-being. More workplaces are shifting away from static standing desks toward movement-based approaches that encourage employees to stay physically active while on the job. Standing desks were initially introduced as a solution to the negative side effects of prolonged sitting. However, research has shown that prolonged standing, especially over the course of an eight-hour workday, isn’t ideal for workers either.
Both prolonged sitting and standing introduce health risks, including carpal tunnel syndrome (for those working at a keyboard), diminished blood circulation, increased strain on the spine and joints, and reduced mental focus. Recent studies suggest that small, continuous movements can improve workers’ energy levels, focus, and mood, leading to increased productivity and overall workplace satisfaction. As a result, organizations are looking for dynamic solutions that balance mobility, comfort, and efficiency in the office.
The Move Toward a More Dynamic Workspace
For some companies, supporting more movement throughout the day has meant a transition to adjustable, modular workspaces. A modular approach to office design serves multiple purposes. Adjustable-height panels, for example, can help employees reduce distractions while also allowing them to move more freely in an open-office setting without disrupting their colleagues. Lowering these panels can transform individual modular workstations into a collaborative hub, where employees can easily share ideas and work together without rigidly assigned seating.
Beyond modular workstations, some companies are experimenting with hot desking – a practice where desks are used by different employees at different times of the day. Rather than assigning specific workstations to individuals, hot desking encourages natural movement throughout the office, breaking up what would otherwise be a fully sedentary workday. Additionally, it allows employers to make more efficient use of office space by maximizing available resources.
While modular workspaces and hot desking introduce opportunities for movement, they alone are not sufficient to fully address the needs of today’s workforce. Employees still need innovative tools that allow for natural, continuous movement without compromising productivity.
Next Steps: Balancing Boards and Integrating Mental Health
Joel Heath, founder of FluidStance, suggests that companies need more than just modular workspaces, however. His company recently developed 27 prototypes to create a product called Level, a workplace balancing board that allows employees to move continuously with less than a 1% impact on keystroke productivity and a greater than 10% impact on calorie burn. “The secret wasn’t just standing; the secret was actually moving,” Heath emphasizes, noting that even just getting up and walking around isn’t enough; office workers need to make micro-movements continuously throughout the day, the way human bodies are intended to.
Health believes the next step in workplace wellness is integrating both micro-movements and mental health. “When we’re sedentary,” Heath warns, “we are going to start feeling sedentary in our brains, too.” Just as employees can see gains in both health and productivity by keeping up physical movement throughout the day, the same is true for mental flow. One way to achieve this is by encouraging “108-second resets,” where workers take brief mindfulness breaks (of less than two minutes) to reduce workplace stress. A simple timer can also help workers remember to take breathing breaks to improve their focus throughout the day and prevent the onset of mental fatigue.
Looking Ahead
Companies that regard their employees as “athletes at work” who are engaged in sustained mental activity throughout the day—activity that is also physically strenuous—will be able to provide more customized solutions to meet individual workers’ physical needs. More attention to personal ergonomics and promoting both small, non-exercise physical activities and mindfulness activities consistently throughout the day might be key to unlocking greater productivity in the workplace while also improving employee wellness, both in their physical and mental health. It may be that the years ahead see a growing trend of companies integrating movement-friendly policies and equipment into their work environments, from modular workstations to balancing boards.
