Weekly Quiz
Take the Week 8 Quiz here.
Round 4: Submit Results Now
Monday, February 20 - Sunday, March 5
Deadline for submitting results: Monday, March 13.
There are many ways today to use technology to improve your work life. One option is a hybrid schedule, which combines on-premise and remote models and creates a unique (and more flexible) environment; one where team members alternate time in the office with a bit of remote work. As long as work tasks are completed on time, hybrid schedule lets people schedule their workdays however they want. This flexibility allows for planning around family responsibilities, working at whatever pace and in whatever environment is most comfortable, and making time for other things that increase health and wellness, like exercise, time outside, or cooking meals at home.
Hybrid work, however, is not suitable for every workplace. If you think your situation could be a potential, talk to your supervisor about if/how hybrid work could be integrated into your life.
Another way to improve the work environment through technology is with sit-stand workstations. According to CDC Take-a-stand Project, results have demonstrated associations of prolonged sitting time with premature mortality; chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer; metabolic syndrome; and obesity.
In contrast, breaks in prolonged sitting time have been correlated with beneficial metabolic profiles among adults, suggesting that frequent breaks in sedentary activity may explain lower health risk related to waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride levels, and 2-hour plasma glucose levels. In the contemporary work place, many workers spend more than half of their entire work day seated, so the work place represents a community venue for the promotion of physical activity and the reduction of sedentary time. Attempts to reduce sedentary behavior at work through the introduction of devices to stimulate breaks in sitting time have shown promise.
Duke Ergonomics recommends the following Sit/Stand Device. If this idea appeals to you, we recommend to ask your supervisor if they are open to providing or subsidizing sit-stand workstations in your office. Go ahead, take a stand!