KEEPING “MOUSE POTATOES” ON THE BOIL         

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the most effective ways of reducing stress. Get out of the office, too.

Taking timeout to clear your head and reduce work-related stress

Through exercise is rising for business people in the CBD according to corporate fitness specialist Stephen Flanagan. Sitting at a computer desk for hours on end has led to an age of mouse potatoes”, he said. “Everyone talks about couch potatoes but sitting down in front of a computer for long periods is also making people fatter and fatter.Mr Flanagan said.

“The computer is just another excuse for people not to exercise. Stephen believes that companies could improve performance by offering fitness options as incentives.

Gone are the days of lunch time pizzas or fat fuelled fried foods as a reward for a job well done. “Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the most effective ways of reducing stress and boosting productivity and it encourages people to get out of the office to take a break.” he said.

“Managers should view such incentives as a proactive approach to managing stress and reducing the risk of being the focus of stress related legal claims.

“Employers will save thousands of dollars because their staff will be more productive and won’t take as many sick days, because they won’t get sick from stress related illness.

Apart from lowering stress regular exercise means a person is likely to have more energy, is not as tired, feels better about themselves, can handle stress better and, accordingly to  Mr Flanagan, can have an improved sex life!