Talk While You Walk for Maximum Productivity

Outdoor Meetings Improve Creativity & Cardiovascular Health

​Moving around in between work schedules improves productivity at work and employee health too, according to research studies. Every employer would encourage his/her employees to be active if there were perks such as increased productivity, happiness and health attached to it. Many companies have started motivating employees to sit on yoga balls at work, take fitness breaks and have started afternoon yoga classes or running clubs to help their employees stay fit. Some companies have gone to the extent of arranging walking meetings which benefit in various ways, according to research.
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• Instigate Creativity: If a person wishes to enhance cognitive flexibility, the ability to shift thinking and keep coming up with a dozen creative ideas, walking is the way to go. A study proposed students to complete a divergent test sitting and then asked them to redo it again on a treadmill or outdoors. The average increase in creative output was almost 60% when the test was given while walking. Furthermore, the creativity of the people involved was at the peak comparatively when they had given the test outdoors.
• Improve Communication: Walking keeps you relaxed. When heart rate increases, oxygen supply to the brain increases and so does the production of neurotransmitters. Inside a boardroom people often feel sleepy, fidgety and keep meddling with their phones often. Whereas, outside while you are walking, the distractions are minimal, there is ample opportunity for communication and problems can be easily solved.
• Improved Cardiovascular Health & Decreased Risk of Other Diseases: People quote lack of time as the primary reason for not able to fulfill the required 30 minutes of activity every day. What would be the scenario if people get the time to do it at office? Even if you don’t get 30 minutes of time continuously, understand that three 10-minute walk sessions are equally beneficial.
  
  

Disease management costs employers profusely along with reduced productivity due to sick leaves. When employers insist employees to work extra hours, they should also be mindful of the health effects caused accordingly. Encouraging employees to move away from their workplace cubicle once in a while promotes a healthy environment.

Steps Companies Need to Follow to Increase Workplace Workout

Check the route beforehand: Keep changing routes every now and then using your phone to track your activity. Promote a walking challenge and offer some incentive as well – any employee is attracted towards perks.

Select a secretary: One person needs to be assigned the task of recording voice and keeping track of time memos as needed. Though walking meetings might be shorter than boardroom meetings, it is better to set a time limit here too.

Avoid petty talks: Make it known to others that you are in an important meeting by wearing lanyards around your neck. When co-workers see you wearing a “meeting in session” sign, they will not interrupt you.

Restrict outdoor meeting groups to small numbers: Though one-on-one meetings work perfect, try to restrict the group to a maximum of 3-4 people. For a larger group, split the group into sub groups assigning them tasks and have them approach you after coming to a solution. Everyone can meet up at the end of the session.

Time the meeting correctly: Keeping the current season in mind, time your meeting. Walking in the morning is best during summers. But, if employees suffer from fatigue or mental boredom mid-afternoon, schedule a meeting during that timeframe.

For more information on how sitting continuously for long hours can affect your health, please visit the website www.firsteatright.com.