AFP – The advantages of physical activity are widely acknowledged, but fitting exercise into a busy workday can be challenging.
In China, some office workers are tackling the sedentary nature of their jobs by incorporating quick workout sessions between meetings.
This trend has gained momentum since a photo surfaced on the Xiaohongshu platform in early July 2024, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
The picture shows a woman flexing her biceps, with the help of a heavy tote bag and a plastic bag containing a takeaway meal, while she waits for the elevator.
“Office workers have their own gym,” the caption reads.
China’s social networks are brimming with testimonials from employees who are improvising little exercise sessions during their working day.
Some run to their company premises, while others use their office chairs to do Pilates exercises.
Everyone has their own solution to help them get moving more, and above all, maintaining their health.
While the benefits of exercise are well documented, many workers in China complain that they don’t have the time for regular physical activity.
This is due to the “996” system, which involves working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week.
In other words, they work 72-hour weeks, even though Chinese law stipulates that the working week must not exceed 40 hours.
This unbearable pace encourages a lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Short workout sessions in the workplace are a good way to reverse this trend.
After all, it’s a proven fact that all physical activity contributes to staying in better shape for longer, even if a certain amount of more vigorous exercise – in terms of duration and intensity – is needed to compensate for the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
But that’s not the only advantage of exercise: it also helps reduce stress and increase productivity.
Research from 2015, carried out by the Paris-based Goodwill management consultancy maintains that a sedentary employee who takes up a physical and sporting activity improves their productivity by six to nine per cent. In this context, companies would do well to allow their employees to get some exercise in the workplace.
