Mark Advent with press-ups in the office
A keep-fit campaign hopes companies will have their staff swivelling in their chairs and doing press-ups on the office floor in the run-up to Christmas as part of a drive for healthier living.
The Energize partnership, which was formed to improve the health of people in the county, has come up with an alternative advent calendar which gives people activities to try each day in the run-up to Christmas.
This year’s tasks, which run from Monday to Friday until Christmas Day, also encourage people to try jogging on the spot, raising their legs, and yoga, as well as more adventurous techniques such as burpees – a full body thrusting movement – and planking, which involves lying face down with only your toes and forearms touching the floor.
The organisation claims that by encouraging their employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle, they can improve productivity by reducing the number of days lost to sickness.
Ben Harper, senior sports manager at Energize, said; “Statistics show that the average worker has 6.6 days off sick every year, costing hundreds of pounds in lost productivity.
“By supporting the health and wellbeing of employees, staff perform better at work, are more motivated, have increased job satisfaction and are less likely to look for other jobs."
He added that weeks leading up to Christmas were traditionally one of the least healthy times of the year.
“The Active Advent challenge is an opportunity to redress the balance, and have some team-building fun with work colleagues at the same time," said Mr Harper,.
Mr Harper is encouraging companies to post pictures or videos of their staff on social media to demonstrate how well they have risen to each daily challenge.
Professor John Buckley an expert in exercise, sedentary behaviour and cardiovascular health at of University Centre Shrewsbury, has produced a set of statistics highlighting how inactivity at work increased the risk of serious illness.
“Inactivity is now the most prevalent risk of heart disease, above other factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol,” he said.
He said as long ago as 1890, Shropshire’s Olympic pioneer Dr William Penny Brookes was wrote about the importance of workers allocating at least half an hour a day to "bodily training".
He added: “Nothing has really changed. It is still advocated that we spend 150 minutes of exercise every week, to burn an extra 1,500 calories.”
Energize is offering spot prizes for companies taking part in the challenges, and will give a daily demonstration of suggested activity on its Twitter page.
Ironbridge-based business consultancy Pleydell Smithyman was crowned Shropshire’s Active Advent champion when the scheme was launched last year, and plans to defend its title this y ear.
“It was a great way to boost morale and get people smiling,” said the company's Kelly Hopkins.
“It’s great fun working together to meet a challenge – whether that was something simple like all completing two burpees or something
seemingly much more difficult like 23 members of staff holding a 22 second yoga pose.
“We’re look forward to participating again this year and hopefully retaining our Active Advent title.”
Telford & Wrekin's NHS clinical commissioning group also too part in last year's challenge.
Information analyst Craig Lovatt said: “It gave our staff the opportunity to get away from their desks for a few minutes twice a day and be a little
more active.
“Not only were our staff moving, but the laughter and smiles of staff taking part lifted spirits. Bring on Active Advent 2017!”
To find out more, and register for the challenge, follow Energize on twitter @EnergizeCSP, and use the hashtag #activeadvent
