Working from home on Mondays makes you feel more sluggish, research claims – but starting out the week with an exercise class could help you beat the gloom
- Research by London-based company Fitness First found working from home at the beginning of the week can make us more sluggish and stressed
- A poll found that people who exercise on a Monday often feel more motivated and productive – even if you’re working remotely
- More than half of people who don’t work out on Monday end up feeling tired and ‘playing catch up’ in life and work, research claims
New research shows working from home on Mondays could be wreaking havoc on our health habits.
A poll by UK-based fitness company Fitness First claimed that staff who went into the office mid-week instead of starting off the week in the office and then working remotely, often had more slack diet and exercise habits.
Psychologist and wellbeing expert Charlotte Armitage explained that people are over-indulging at the weekends to reward themselves for the hard work they put in during the week.
She said that the hybrid working structure that has emerged due to working from home means that people are starting the week at home and feel more sluggish.
People who work from home on Mondays are less likely to exercise and more likely to feel sluggish and unmotivated to work, research by British fitness company Fitness First has found. Stock picture
Fitness First said that people who start their week with a Monday workout even though they work from home are more likely to feel productive than the people who exercise towards the weekend.
The research found that working from home on Monday had seen people kickstart their weekly routine later than they would if they started the week by going into the office.
And starting the week working from home also means that people are taking more time to shake off the weekend and muster the motivation they need to have a successful week.
Over a third of people who took part in the research said that starting their week with exercise on a Monday has a positive impact on their mental and physical health through the week.
People who do work out early in the week and more likely to feel motivated and will likely exercise later in the week as well, stock picture
And nearly half of people who start the week with a workout said it makes them more likely to work out later in the week as well.
However, more than half of people who do not workout on Monday admitted they feel more demotivated, sluggish and tired.
Elsewhere a third of people also admitted covid-19-induced restriction and working out form home have made it harder for them to feel compel to exercise early in the week.
Charlotte Armitage, who worked with Fitness First on the research, said: ‘A contributing factor impacting our motivation levels is the traditional structure of the working week in the UK.
‘Given that many people will have weekends as downtime, this filters through into changes in diet and exercise as we allow ourselves a weekend to indulge as a reward for working hard all week,’ she said.
‘This overindulgence can leave us feeling sluggish when the week starts again. Committing to exercise can be a good way to rejuvenate the mind and body to prepare for the week ahead.
‘Naturally, the seasons of the year have an impact on our energy levels. At this time of year, the lack of sunlight and cold weather can make it hard to be motivated, and this is compounded further by the impact of the pandemic,’ she went on.
SORE KNEES WHILE WORKING FROM HOME? PUT YOUR LEGS UP THE WALL
Why aches occur:
‘In older people, knee pain is rarely the knee’s fault, other than arthritic changes,’ says physiotherapist Nell Mead. ‘If the foot or hip is weak, the knee suffers. So improving these areas is key.’
What you can do:
- Roll your feet: ‘If the feet are stiff when they land, the shock transfers to the knees,’ says Nell Mead. ‘Rolling each foot for 30 seconds on a tennis ball can relax the muscles, helping flexibility.’
- Push off when you walk: ‘Land at the back of the foot and roll through to ease pressure on the knee as you walk,’ says Nell Mead.
- Clench each buttock: ‘If you can’t clench each buttock separately, it’s a sign of hip weakness which will transfer to the knee,’ says Nell Mead. ‘You need to work the buttocks: try exercises such as bridges [see hips, above].’
- Lie with your feet up: ‘The muscles of the thigh and lower leg cover the knee, if these are tight they can pull bones closer, causing pain,’ says Nell Mead. ‘To relax these muscles, lie on your back with your feet up the wall. Hold your feet straight for 30 seconds, then point your toes together and out for half a minute each.’
Lie with your feet up
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