It’s common knowledge that sitting at a desk all day is draining, but have you ever heard the maxim “Spend energy to get energy”? That’s the theory behind the treadmill desk study Maple Grove resident and Salo employee spearheaded in 2008. Now he’s launched his own consulting business to bring a culture of wellness, energy and enthusiasm to offices all over the metro area. “I like to call myself Chief Culture Officer— it’s my unofficial title,” Dexheimer says.
In 2008, Salo and Dexheimer partnered with Dr. James Levine, a world-renowned endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, to bring the first treadmill desk study to Salo, a staffing agency in Minneapolis. Participants set the treadmills at slow paces—about 1–2 miles per hour was enough to keep moving without breaking a sweat—allowing them to reply to emails and to do other routine office work at an elevated desk. Instead of feeling worn out at day’s end, researchers found that employees became more engaged and creative.
“We know that every hour that you sit is an hour that the desk draws nearer,” says Dr. Levine. Mounting evidence shows that prolonged sitting is associated with health problems, including joint issues, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, deep vein thrombosis, and heart disease, not to mention sluggishness and boredom.
The solution is simple, according to Dr. Levine. “Get up now,” he says. It’s all about finding more ways to burn calories, without breaking a sweat. Many offices are incorporating simple ideas to help employees get moving.
“What I found is that people are more engaged, more creative, more energized when they’re moving.” Dexheimer says. To make tangible changes in an office environment, it’s important that the leadership participates to change the existing culture. Dexheimer’s team all made a point of using their treadmill desks, and walking meetings became a standing option for every employee. “You don’t have to be wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt. You can wear a shirt, tie and tennis shoes and burn calories,” Dexheimer says.
Treadmill desks aren’t an option in every office, but any company can incorporate walking meetings. Most corporate campuses have green space outside perfect for a walking meeting. In downtown Minneapolis, skyways provide a year-round option. Failing that, just grab a roll of painters tape. That’s what Dexheimer’s team used to create a walking track around their office.
Even small things like encouraging staff to get up and talk to each other instead of relying on instant messenger or email make a difference. Promoting more face-to-face interaction could have far reaching benefits for company wide morale too.
It’s easy to feel the difference. “When you walk into an office, you immediately sense whether there’s a malaise, and similarly, you can tell when people are jovial and happy. They smile,” says Dr. Levine. In dynamic workplaces, people are more engaged and alert, and meetings are more productive. Over time, everyone begins to notice the cumulative effect of all those little steps.
Dexheimer lost 25 pounds in six months and found himself with more energy for his two sons at the end of the work day. “It was far reaching in my life,” he says. Dr. Levine claims those first small changes are the most important. “You can’t reverse 6 hours of sitting until you take the first minute of standing,” he says.
Steelcase, provider of the treadmill desks used in Dr. Levine’s study, has a consumer model called The Walkstation available at store.steelcase.com.
