Just two hours of desk work leads to declining mental health. Here's how to reverse it

Kate Ng
·Trending Lifestyle Reporter
Updated ·4-min read
Actor Brian Cox stars in a new Public Service Announcement video by ASICS to encourage desk workers to take 'movement breaks' throughout the day. (ASICS)
Actor Brian Cox stars in a new Public Service Announcement video by ASICS to encourage desk workers to take 'movement breaks' throughout the day. (ASICS)

With millions of people working behind desks across the UK, concerns over the impact of a sedentary lifestyle have risen in recent years. A new study suggests that just two hours of continuous desk work can have a negative effect on mental health.

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day, which falls on 10 October, sportswear makers ASICS has released the results of its global State of Mind study, which involved 26,000 participants. It revealed a strong link between sedentary lifestyles and mental wellbeing, so much so that the brand is urging desk workers to incorporate movement into their daily routines.

ASICS has enlisted the help of Succession star Brian Cox to deliver its message in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) video, which depicts Cox as the ‘world’s scariest boss’ to highlight the threat of being sedentary to mental health.

Led by Dr Brendon Stubbs from King’s College London, the research found that, after just two hours of continuous work, participants reported a declining state of mind and rising stress levels. After four hours of uninterrupted desk time, their stress levels rose significantly by 18%.

However, workers who took just 15 minutes to take a ‘movement break’ found the negative effects of being sedentary could be reversed. Office workers said their mental state improved by 22.5% after adding 15 minutes of movement into their working dat, with overall State of Mind scores increasing from 62 to 76 out of 100.

Young African-American woman on a coffee break
Taking just 15 minutes out of your working day to move - whether it's walking, running, jumping, or any movement at all - can help improve mental health and productivity, a study has found. (Getty Images)

After one week of taking a daily break from the desk, participants reported stress levels were lowered by 14.7%, productivity was boosted by 33.2%, and focus was improved by 28.6%.

They also reported feeling 33.3% more relaxed and 28.6% more calm and resilient. The study also revealed that being able to take regular movement breaks can benefit employers as well, as 79.2% of participants said they would be more loyal to their companies if it was offered.

Dr Stubbs said: "We have shown previously that just 15 minutes of exercise in leisure time can result in a meaningful improvement in people’s State of Mind scores.

"But what surprised us with the Desk Break experiment was how powerful the 15-minute movement breaks were in improving wellbeing and reducing stress. It even changed people’s perceptions of their workplace for the better."

In the PSA, Cox encourages workers not to be fooled by ‘so-called wellbeing perks’ some companies might offer instead of giving employees time away from their desks. He calls on workers to put their mental health first by taking a short movement break during the working day.

In addition, ASICS is also introducing the first employee contract with a Desk Break clause that grants employees a dedicated daily break to move, in order to improve mental wellbeing. The company is calling on other employers to follow suit.

'It’s great to see ASICS try and do something about this and encourage people to support their mental health through exercise. As I say in the film, run, jump, roller-skate. I don’t care. Just move for your mind,' actor Brian Cox says. (ASICS)
'It’s great to see ASICS try and do something about this and encourage people to support their mental health through exercise. As I say in the film, run, jump, roller-skate. I don’t care. Just move for your mind,' actor Brian Cox says. (ASICS)

Commenting on the campaign, Hayley Jarvis, head of physical activity at mental health charity Mind, said: "At the heart of all organisation are their greatest asset, their people.

"Supporting employee mental wellbeing by creating a mentally healthy culture where people feel safe and supported and introducing tools such as workplace wellness action plans means that employees can turn up to work each day confident, less stressed and empowered to do their job."

She adds: "At Mind, we have seen how regular physical activity, even small amounts, can help support better mental health. Bringing a daily movement break into the working day is a small change that can make a huge difference, and we applaud ASICS for leading the charge in changing how employers approach mental wellbeing for the better.

"We look forward to seeing leaders role modelling this as an important part of self-care."

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