Movement matters: how employers can drive change during mental health awareness week
Every year, the UK celebrates Mental Health Awareness Week - a time to focus on mental wellbeing, raise awareness, and combat stigma surrounding mental health. This year, the week will run from May 13th to 19th, with a powerful theme: Movement.
Movement is often overlooked but is a key ingredient for maintaining our psychological wellbeing. Physical activity can boost energy levels, reduce stress, have a positive impact on depression and anxiety symptoms, and enhance self-esteem - these are just a few of the many benefits. Yet, many of us find it challenging to incorporate movement into our daily lives.
In fact, 36% of UK adults struggle to find time for physical activity, something I can certainly relate to.
There are many reasons why people might find it challenging to exercise regularly. Hence, this year's Mental Health Awareness Week aims to encourage individuals to integrate exercise into their daily routines, even if it's in small ways (more details can be found on the Mental Health Foundation’s website).
It feels important to acknowledge here that movement looks different for different people. Individuals will have varying abilities, preferences, and constraints when it comes to physical activity; what’s possible for one person might be impossible for another. Employers should actively strive to make movement initiatives inclusive and accessible to all employees. One way that organisations can do this is providing a variety of options, such as offering a wide range of activities and ensuring facilities are accessible to all staff. You can read this article from Mind (2023) for more information on this, and you’ll also find some specific ideas on this further down in this blog.
I've dedicated this month's blog to exploring how employers can encourage their employees to embrace movement and empower them to take time and prioritise their own mental health. But first, let’s dive into the impact of movement on our mental health.
How does movement impact our mental health?
The Mental Health Foundation outlines that engaging in physical activity releases chemicals in the brain (endorphins) that can…
Enhance mood
Boost self-esteem
Improve concentration
Promote better sleep quality
Reduce tension, stress, and mental fatigue
Reduce feelings of anger or frustration
Improve appetite
There’s also research that suggests that regular exercise can have a profound positive impact on depression, anxiety and ADHD symptoms (HelpGuide.org, 2024).
A recent study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that running for 15 minutes a day or walking for an hour reduces the risk of major depression by 26% (Cited in HelpGuide.org, 2024).
If traditional cardio or walking isn’t an option, gentle movement such as seated Qi Gong, Tai Chi, or restorative yoga can be highly effective (see this article from Harvard Health). Swimming is another form of exercise that can be a lot more tolerable for people with mobility issues. Any movement can be beneficial for our mental health, and it’s important to find something that feels suitable for your situation.
Many people have the notion that being active requires an expensive gym membership or big-time commitments, but it can be as simple as finding an activity that’s enjoyable and accessible.
In fact, a recent study found that people who squeeze their exercise routines into one or two sessions during the weekend experience almost as many health benefits as those who worked out more often (Cited in HelpGuide.org, 2024).
Discovering an activity you enjoy can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment. It also offers opportunities for socialising, a break from daily routines, and building confidence.
I've previously emphasised in my blogs that supporting employee mental health isn't just ethically desirable; it can also directly impact the bottom line. Providing employees with wellbeing support can significantly influence business outcomes (you can read about this in my blog ‘The Business Case for Wellbeing’ here).
Therefore, empowering movement can be a valuable approach for employers to support their employees' mental health and overall wellbeing. But, how can they effectively implement this?
Ten ways employers can encourage movement
As mentioned, empowering movement within the workplace can be a strategic and beneficial initiative. Here are ten ideas employers can use to implement this:
1. Promote breaks and pacing: Encourage employees to take short breaks throughout the day for some kind of physical activity. This could include stretching exercises, short walks, or even desk-based workouts. Implementing policies that support these breaks can foster a culture of movement and pacing.
2. Provide wellness programmes: Offer company-widewellness programmes that include a range of activities such as fitness classes, yoga sessions, or breathing workshops. The more variety on offer, the easier it will be for such programmes to be inclusive. These programmes can be conducted onsite and/or through partnerships with local fitness centres.
3. Provide resources and support: This includes resources like access to fitness apps or discounted gym/swim memberships. This could also include providing employees with access to occupational health services such as physiotherapy.
4. Lead by example: Encourage leadership to prioritise movement and wellbeing. When employees see senior management actively participating in movement initiatives, it can inspire them to do the same.
5. Flexible working arrangements: Allow flexible schedules that accommodate physical activity during the day, such as longer lunch breaks for workouts or remote work options that enable more time for exercise.
6. Support active commuting: Support colleagues in walking or cycling to work by providing facilities such as bike racks, showers, and changing rooms. For example, incentives like cycle-to-work schemes or reward schemes for walkers.
7. Educational workshops: Host workshops which explore the benefits of physical activity for mental health and overall wellbeing. Invite fitness experts or health professionals to provide insight, guidance and inspiration.
8. Create active workspaces: Design office layouts that promote movement, such as height-adjustable desks, or designated areas for physical activities like yoga or meditation.
9. Incentives and challenges: Wellness challenges and reward systems for achieving fitness goals can foster friendly competition and motivation among employees.
10. Walking meetings: Where appropriate and possible, incorporating walking meetings into the work week can encourage movement while promoting productivity and creativity among employees. If walking isn’t an option, outdoor meetings can offer a helpful change of scene and the benefits of being in nature.
The Harvard Business Review (2023) found through two studies, that employees' daily physical activity generates a cascade of benefits—including physical (such as improved sleep), affective (increased vigour), and cognitive (enhanced focus). These benefits contribute to job performance and health outcomes in varied and significant ways.
By empowering movement and prioritising the health and happiness of employees, organisations can support employee wellbeing and experience increased productivity, enthusiasm, reduced absenteeism, higher employee engagement, and improved retention rates.
Ultimately, empowering movement and a focus on employee wellbeing not only benefits individuals but also contributes to a healthier, happier, more engaged workforce and a more sustainable and successful business in the long run (pun intended!).
I’m Miriam and I run Reasonful - we offer support to small and medium-sized businesses that are typically facing challenges of rapid growth, talent retention, fast-paced work and constant pressure to deliver results, all whilst wanting to support long-term employee mental health and wellbeing.
We offer mental health workshops, mindfulness classes, wellbeing strategy support and bespoke programmes.
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