Putting Fun Into Movement

At Tignum we encourage our clients to move more. Not just for the obvious benefits like: improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, decreased risk for diabetes or cancer, or enhanced immune function. We try to emphasize some of the less known but very important benefits such as: increased self-esteem, decreased anxiety, improved ability to handle stress, improved creativity, and an increase in mood.

We use the word movement rather than exercise because to many busy executives they see exercise as something that is painful, takes too much time, requires special equipment, and is no fun. I don’t usually agree with them but I do know that their perception is definitely their reality.

This is why we look for simple ways to just move more. Get off the train two stops early so you can walk. Have walking meetings instead of sitting meetings. Walk to lunch rather than drive. And one of my all time favorites is to take the stairs rather than the elevator or the escalator. In our book: Sink, Float, or Swim we estimated that this alone could save a person from gaining up to 4 pounds a year (this is significant over a professional lifetime).

Unfortunately, the stairwell in most companies is a drab, stale, uncomfortable place to be. It’s only a life saver in the event of a building fire. Therefore it’s not easy to convince them to want to go there to move more. When we partner with our clients to help them change their culture we look at these types of things because these are the little things that really help people change their habits.
This video clip was shared by one of our clients and it’s a great example of adding the element of fun and the impact it can make on changing movement habits.

By Scott Peltin // Founder & Chief Performance Officer

TIGNUM // Institute for Sustainable High Performance

Comments

[Dean Muller]

Great thoughts. It made me think about my habits and i really park the car closest to the office, always use the people mover at the airport and always take the elevator. Mhhhh i have to change this.
Also great clip. Amazing how you guys always find great stuff