Happy 2009 folks,
I wrote this 600 word article for the World Entrepreneurs Organization (www.eonetwork.org). Many of or 7000 members worldwide have short attention spans (either triple A types or ADHD, which ever way you wish to describe us. FYI I am strongly both). I thought I would post it as a blog entry in hope that some of you will find it interesting. Enjoy!
Reviving My 9 to 5
It was the spring of 1995; 10 years of building my business and 5 years of competitive Ski Racing were behind me. I was flying home from the World Championships of Speed Skiing in Finland to see my wife Margaret, who was expecting our first child. We had been married for 9 months and I was ready to raise a family and continue building my company. I was sick of flying and tired of the training.
I pondered, how would I fit my new family, business and fitness into my busy life?
My solution, I decided was to cut back on the gym for a year and start “active sitting”- no more executive chair just an exercise ball chair. It seemed like a good idea!
Now, 14 years later, my good idea has expanded into a totally “active office.” I use a stand-sit desk, ball chair, balance boards and varied surfaces to stand on while I work. The rest of the team sets their desks up as they like with properly sized ball chairs, German made Swopper chairs or active sitting discs on regular chairs. We sit for shorter periods of time and stand whenever possible. Balance boards are in every meeting space to help promote better balance and proprioception (your bodies spatial awareness). (/http://www.fitter1.com/Catalog/Category/10/ActiveSitting.aspx)
Active sitting on Swopper
It seems we’re always in front of monitors so it is imperative that the environment is an asset, not a liability to good health. Desks are fit to the person, not the person to the desk. Monitors are eye level to promote proper heads up posture. Keyboards are low enough with pull out trays so that even shorter staff do not scrunch their shoulders to type, risking neck stress or carpal tunnel injuries. Laptops all have extension keyboards and hands free headsets are available. The goal is simple – keep the core moving and the spine in a good relationship with gravity. When it is time to slouch, make it a relaxing experience. We have an antique dental chair in our office that makes it easy to kick back to relax.
After 24 years in the rehab and wellness industries, I have tried 100’s of products that claim to make the work place healthier. I have learned that the key to good health is movement – humans are designed to move and did so for 1,000’s of years just to survive. Extensive sitting at work or while driving is a new thing in mankind’s evolution and it is not good for any of us. Regardless of cost, no chair or back support will keep us functional if we sit for hours with limited movement. Rehab specialists get bodies healthy after injury by retraining posture and the movement of muscles, tendons and joints. This works perfectly well for healthy people too!
200KPH is fast
When I was racing for Canada I was not concerned about aging or health as I felt I was bullet proof. But by 23 years old, I had undergone one knee and two serious foot operations followed by months on crutches, painful walking and 2 years off skis. I learned the hard way that balance and mobility are easy to take for granted and hard to get back once they are compromised. Maintenance or “prehab” proved to be a much better approach and it helped me set good habits for a lifetime of active living. I still make time for workouts and sports, but when travel, business and life gets in the way, and I have an easy, fun and stimulating health program at my desk 24/7. Now that’s effective multi tasking!
I believe in SAM, which stands for Stability, Agility and Mobility. Maintain or improve STABILITY in the everyday environment to have better AGILITY at play this weekend, which leads to better MOBILITY for life. SAM has helped me master the art of aging gracefully.
I founded my company in 1985 to help me get over my ski injuries and get back to an active life style. I was thrilled to experience that my active sitting had the long-term effect of improving my skiing, confidence and reaction skills even after I left competitive racing. Our Team at Fitter has had similar experiences with back pain diminishing and simply feeling better. We are more productive because we have made movement a fundamental part of our workspace.
I like to remind people; “Balance is the Essence of Movement and Movement is the Essence of Life”. An active office is a great place to invest one’s energy and the ROI is happy, healthy and productive people who make the best of their 9 to 5, everyday.
