July 11, 2017 7:00:00 AM EDT  |  Culture  |  Facilities Support Services  |  WELL Building Standard

How To Remain Active In A Stagnant Workplace (WELL Feature #71)

Your desk is your friend. It holds your trusted computer, that jelly-filled donut that represents your breakfast, and your obesity.

Stressed businesswoman sitting at her desk in the officeThe cushion seat that you plop into every day and push forward towards your desk could be causing you unnecessary health hazards. In order to promote a healthy and active workplace environment, you need to get up and away from that desk.

With deadlines due and emails to check, it can be tough to do anything else but sit at your desk all day. However, having the ability to stand and move while working is ideal when thinking of your health. One way to do this is by using a TerraMat.

The TerraMat is a new design that is meant to keep you standing comfortably for long periods of time. It is ideal for individuals who have traditional desk jobs and rarely get the chance to get up and move around. Coupled with a standing desk, the TerraMat is a great item to take away the fatigue that is known to follow with sitting all day. It also can give your feet a quick massage, giving relief to those aching feet muscles.

Do you wish you could exercise while you are at work? The TerraMat makes this possible by allowing you to utilize the mat for stretches. Yoga gives wonderful benefits to your overall health. This mat allows for yoga poses to strengthen and stretch your muscles. It’s ok if you only have five minutes or so to spare. You’ll notice a difference in five-minute daily exercise intervals throughout your workday.

It is vital to keep your body active, even while you are a work. Maintaining movement at your desk is not impossible anymore. You can work and have a little play by incorporating active furnishings into your workplace furniture.

Be WELL!

About the Author

Ray Carney

Ray Carney

Ray Carney, WELL AP is a Vice President at Markon Solutions and a champion for wellness in the workplace. Ray’s areas of expertise include workplace strategy and modification, design thinking, leadership, sustainable design, data centers, and creating secure environments. His experience includes providing cradle-to-grave project management support for the successful design and build of secure facilities. He also spearheaded the tenant fit-out of Markon's headquarters expansion to ensure that it achieved WELL certification. This was the first WELL certified project in the Commonwealth and was recognized by the City of Falls Church for its achievement. Since joining Markon in 2007, Ray has managed numerous internal program strategies, capture efforts, and client engagements. He also co-developed Markon's in-house Leadership Development Program. Prior to joining Markon, Ray consulted for prestigious consulting firms in the DC metropolitan area and Ohio. Ray's passion for wellness in the workplace has led him to speak at numerous engagements around the country including the National Facilities Management and Technology (NFMT) Conference and Expo. He also published an article on WELL Building Standards in FaciltiesNet. Ray was named one of Engineering News-Record Midatlantic's 2016 Top 20 Under 40 for contributions to the industry. He received his MBA with a concentration in Leadership and Finance from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in Management with a concentration in Business Technology from John Carroll University. Ray is a WELL Accredited Professional, LEED Green Associate, Six-Sigma certified Yellow Belt, certified SCRUMMaster, Sun Certified Java Programmer, and holds the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential as well as both ITIL v3 Foundations and Quality Management certifications.