With one study showing that less than 3% of Americans live a healthy lifestyle, we should all be on the lookout for ways to stay fit.
But what if you're too busy with work to exercise?
Enter the balance board.
This innovative board is similar to a stationary skateboard and is designed to be used in combination with a standing desk.
Standing on the board isn't difficult, but it does involve some balance, coordination, and use of your muscles. This might not sound like a lot, but it's enough to improve your fitness without taking time away from work.
Intrigued?
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about balance boards.
How Can I Use a Balance Board?
Not sure you'll be able to fit the balance board into your regular working day?
Worried that it'll end up gathering dust in a cupboard?
Luckily, the balance board is designed to slot seamlessly into your usual activities without causing any disruption or inconvenience - keep reading to find out how you could use yours.
Combine With a Standing Desk
The most popular way to use a balance board is in combination with a standing desk.
You'll simply place the balance board directly beneath your desk and stand on top of it instead of on the floor. This gives your muscles a little more work to do than if you were standing on flat ground, but doesn't change your experience or distract you.
If you already have a standing desk and want to take your fitness to the next level, investing in a balance board is a no-brainer.
Hold Standing Meetings
Prefer to sit down while you work?
That's okay - you can still find other uses for the balance board.
Get the whole team involved by holding standing meetings where everyone stands on a balance board. This should make attendees more alert, increase energy levels in the room, and keep everyone healthy.
Try proposing the idea at your next team meeting - you might be surprised by how enthusiastic people are!
Take Balance Board Breaks
Don't think standing meetings are going to take off in your workplace?
That's okay - you can also use your balance board during breaks.
If you'd usually hang out by the water cooler, chat with coworkers, or browse your phone, try standing on a balance board at the same time.
You could even keep a couple of boards in the break room for everyone to use while they take a rest from work. Even a few minutes on a balance board is better than nothing, so don't make excuses not to use yours.
What Benefits Do Balance Boards Have?
Okay, so now you know how to use balance boards. You're probably wondering why you'd want to use one.
Balance boards offer unique benefits when it comes to fitness - they help stabilize muscles, encourage micro-movements, and there's very little risk of injury.
Keep reading for a rundown of the key benefits.
Low-Impact Exercise
Low-impact exercise is proven to benefit you regardless of ability level, so it's ideal for anyone who isn't particularly sporty. It doesn't get much more low-impact than standing on a balance board, and there's very little risk of injury.
If you're recovering from a sports injury and are susceptible to hurting yourself during exercise, or you want something passive to do in between workouts, standing on a balance board is perfect.
It's safe for senior employees, too, which means everyone in the office can take advantage of the fitness benefits.
Forces You to Stabilize Muscles
Since it takes a little effort to keep yourself upright on a balance board, standing on one means you'll have to constantly stabilize your muscles.
You'll need to stand up from your core, which helps to work muscles which are usually passive while sitting down. This can help improve your posture, build your strength, and keep your muscles from becoming atrophied due to lack of use.
Sitting or standing passively can cause you to slump or relax, meaning that your muscles aren't getting any use. When you're on a balance board, there's no choice but to activate the muscles that help you stay upright.
Encourages Micro-Movements
Do you hate jogging, sports, swimming, and working out?
You're in luck.
The balance board is a subtle form of exercise which prompts you to make tiny micro-movements to keep yourself stable. Your body will constantly adjust itself throughout the day, which helps to exercise muscles all over the body.
After a while, you probably won't even notice you're making these micro-movements - but you'll continue to see the benefits.
Try it for a day, and you'll realize how much more fun it is to balance than to simply stand.
Help You Stay Alert
Ever find yourself nodding off to sleep at your desk? Or struggling to concentrate on what you're doing as the day wears on?
We've all been there.
When you're sitting down, it's all too easy to become tired and unfocused.
However, when you're standing on a balance board, there's no excuse but to stay alert - or you'll soon fall to the ground.
That fact that you need to stay active to stay on the board means that your mind and body are in a much better state to tackle work, which should lead to increased productivity.
If you're in charge of an office and notice employees struggling with fatigue, investing in a few balance boards isn't a bad idea.
Invest in Office Balance Boards
Office balance boards have so many benefits - they help you stay alert, keep fit, and maintain good posture.
They're easy to use in combination with standing desks, during meetings, or as a little challenge during breaks. You could go solo with your own balance board, or splash out and introduce them to the entire office.
If you want to stay fit and healthy without your work suffering, balance boards are the way to go.
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