4 Creative Office Gym Designs To Promote Fitness In The Workplace
By Rilind Elejaz
Today’s professionals spend long hours sitting at desks, staring at computer screens. They also lead busy lives with limited time to squeeze in workouts between work and other obligations. In response, offices across the country are looking at creating gym spaces that their employees can use during business hours to stay fit and lead a healthy life.
These office gyms have proven to be a game-changer for those who use them regularly. Companies that offer office gyms to their employees see benefits like reduced stress, increased energy, and more productive workers. If you manage an office or own one, here are a few to incorporate when designing an office gym.
Walking Corridors Arrangement
You can create a barrierless corridor around the work desks where employees can walk while they are taking phone calls, brainstorming, or having a one-on-one discussion. These spaces can then be equipped with little pieces of gym equipment – nothing very sophisticated – for the employees to use. Coupled with weights, walking can be a good nudge for your employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle even when they are in the office. Besides that, walking around will help you increase your overall metabolic rate—which is something that will benefit you for the rest of the day no matter what you’re doing.
Workout Room Design
If you’re not short of space, you can create a full-fledged gym in one of the halls. Using this design will give your employees access to a wide range of machines, weights, and other fitness equipment. A workout room could be projected as a place to spend time when they have a few minutes to kill between calls and meetings. Depending on the equipment they have access to, the employees could work on strength, cardio, or flexibility. They may only have enough time to squeeze in 10 or 20 minutes of exercise, but that’s better than nothing.
It is important to equip your office gym with the right equipment. This can include basic equipment such as weights and floor mats or more advanced equipment such as treadmills and rowing machines. You can also consider investing in a set of dumbbells and a treadmill that will last you for years to come. Using dumbbells will help employees burn calories and build strength. It will also prove to be a great way to break up the monotony of sitting at a desk all day by getting in some cardio activity. It could be useful in building focus ahead of a crucial meeting.
Aerobic Stair Machine Design
If you want to improve the cardiovascular fitness of your employees an aerobic stair machine is a great option. Of course, you will also have to incorporate design changes in the main working area. Gym equipment can be arranged around the vacant walls for use by employees. But by putting the equipment in the sight of the employees, you can nudge them to adopt a more active life. To maximize the effectiveness of this workout, try alternating stairs with other activities. If you can give a few hours between meetings, your employees can use it to walk up and down the stairs whenever they can and then switch to other forms of workout. The best part is that this design will also help you save space.
Treadmill Desks With Outside View
If you’re located in a building that has glass exteriors, you can arrange treadmill desks around the walls, which will leave space empty for workstations in the center of the hall. Other equipment can then be arranged along the hallway which your employees use. Treadmill desks are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people discover the many benefits they offer. If you want your workers to stay fit while they are at work, a treadmill desk design is an excellent option. Treadmill desks are as effective as walking or running outside, but they allow you to stay indoors and keep your hands free for typing and other tasks. There are many other benefits to using a treadmill desk.
Conclusion
There are dozens of creative ways to nudge your employees to get fit while working. Some of the best design ideas for incorporating a gym in an office setting include walking corridors in the office building, aerobic stair machines setting, treadmill desks arrangement, and workout rooms. No matter which option you choose, your employees will also need a little motivation, a lot of discipline, and some creativity to find the time. By getting fit while working, they will not only be able to improve their health but also boost their productivity.