Summer is knocking on our door! How are you encouraging your employees to engage in physical activity and get some fresh air? The American Heart Association recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week, which for many of us is easier said than done- especially when many people are sitting at their desks for 8 hours during the workday.

Regular physical activity can reduce feelings of depression, reduce obesity and reduce risks of cardiovascular disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that poor health and ensuing loss of productivity at workplaces costs about $225.8 billion per year. The health benefits of physical activity can also decrease employee absenteeism and health insurance claims.

There are several ways an employer can help promote physical activity during work hours, whether employees are on-site or remote:

• Walk over to a co-worker you need to talk to rather than calling or e-mailing them
• Encourage walking meetings – either as a group or walking around the block while on a conference call
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Stand during meetings
• Exercise at your desk. Try 10 jumping jacks each hour!
• Take a walk during your lunch break

Anything you can do to encourage your employees to stay physically active helps your business: it reduces employee stress, keeps health costs down, decreases missed work and keeps employees’ minds healthy, too. A healthy workforce is a strong workforce!