Why Office Workers Should Sign Up For Extreme Exercise Challenges

There’s no denying the fact that office work tends to involve a lot of sitting down staring at computer screens. So it’s no surprise that many people are looking for ways to fit more physical activity into their daily routines. From cycling to work to making regular trips to the gym, there are a number of things people can do to raise their fitness levels - and it seems some are taking things to a new level. Around the world, a rising number of people are signing up to extreme exercise challenges, and new research suggests there may be very good reasons for this. According to a study carried out by Cardiff University, Nanyang Technological University and Kedge Business School, testing their bodies to the limit in these challenges can help people to feel more in tune with their bodies and it can have a range of psychological benefits. Tough Mudder The researchers focussed on the Tough Mudder events, which started in 2010 and see participants complete a 10-12 mile mud and obstacle course including everything from icy pools of water to wires delivering 10,000 volt electric shocks. The course is designed to take people out of their comfort zones. People aren’t timed and there are no winners and podiums. Instead, the challenge emphasises camaraderie and teamwork. Despite the fact that injuries have included heart attacks, strokes and even death, 2.5 million people in six countries have entered Tough Mudder over the last seven years. ‘Escape the anxieties of modern life’ The Kedge Business School’s Professor Bernard Cova suggested that painful and exhausting experiences like this help people to “escape from the demands and anxieties of modern life”. He also stated that by leaving wounds, these challenges help participants to create a story of a “fulfilled life spent exploring the limits of the body”. According to the researchers, these events provide short-term relief from the “burdens of self-awareness” too. They added that intense, painful physical tests can help those who feel that their office jobs have made their bodies redundant to reconnect with their physical nature. Promoting worker wellbeing Training for the challenges has the added benefit of helping people to get fit, and there are a host of reasons why this is important for general health. It’s now well known that regular exercise can dramatically reduce people’s risk of major health problems including diabetes, cancer and heart disease. If you’re keen to help your employees get fitter and healthier, there are a range of simple but effective steps you can take. For example, you could run cycle to work schemes, set up after-work sports clubs and arrange fitness-based fundraising challenges. If you have the space, you may even want to install gym equipment in your workspace. On a more basic level, you can promote worker wellbeing by ensuring your office is ergonomically designed. For example, it’s important to provide good quality workstation seating that encourages good posture, and to ensure workstations are well planned and comfortable to use. Whether or not your workers sign up to extreme challenges like Tough Mudder, it’s worthwhile doing your bit to help them stay fit and healthy.

May 9, 2017 | View: 436 | Categories: ROOT