It’s absolutely not what springs to mind when you think about potential health risks, but according to new research, the biggest threat to your mental health could be your… desk. That’s right, ASICS’ global State of Mind study, which included 26,000 participants, has revealed a strong connection between sedentary behaviour and mental wellbeing.
In the study, participants who spent 10-12 hours per day inactive had significantly lower ‘State of Mind’ scores, with an average of 45/100. This was compared to a score of 63/100 for participants who only spent 4-6 hours a day inactive. What’s more, follow-up research found that after just two hours of desk work State of Mind scores began to drop while stress levels rose.
Now if you ask us, there’s already enough things to worry about at work before factoring in concerns for your mental health declining unless you get up once every two hours. Angry bosses, looming deadlines and endless commutes are adequate cause for a dip in mental health, but according to the ASICS research, it’s the sedentary nature of desk work that weaponises it against you.
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This is sounding precisely like the news you didn’t need this week, but there is one positive takeaway from a new Desk Break experiment: just 15 minutes of movement can reverse the negative effects of being sedentary. The experiment found that when office workers added 15 minutes of movement into their working day, their mental state improved by 22.5 per cent.
The experiment also showed that taking a daily desk break for one week lowered stress by 14.7 per cent, boosted productivity by 33.2 per cent and improved focus by 28.6 per cent – so there’s an incentive for employers to allow them too.
ASICS is now urging workers to put their mental health first and take desk breaks during working hours. And you’ll never guess who they’ve tapped to deliver this message – it’s the ultimate angry boss, Succession’s Brian Cox.
In the Desk Break PSA, the actor debuts a familiar look in a sleek and severe suit, but rather than scolding you for a minor inconvenience, he reminds us of the importance of moving. “I’ve played some pretty intimidating characters in my time but who would have thought a desk could be scarier?” Cox said. “As I say in the film, run, jump, roller skate. I don’t care. Just move for your mind.”
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Alright, you know the benefits of a desk break, but what’s next? Well, with October 10th being World Mental Health Day, ASICS is encouraging office workers to take a desk break and feel the mental benefits. And if you are taking a desk break, share an image of yourself taking the leap, because images shared will be used to raise funds for mental health charities around the world.
