Resources

How to Hold More Active Meetings

As business owners and employees become more aware of the negative effects of sitting all day on our bodies, we need new ways of staying active on the job. We all know standing desks are a great solution for keeping moving at our desks, but what about those of us who are stuck in meetings all day? Here are some creative solutions for giving everyone in your conference rooms the option to move freely throughout the day.

Choose an Adjustable-Height Conference Table

That’s right, adjustable-height furniture doesn’t only come in desk form! Adjustable-height conference tables come in a wide range of styles and sizes, allowing meeting members to decide when they’d like to sit or stand. Remember to provide stools rather than standard conference chairs in a meeting room with an adjustable-height table. This way, users can still take a seat if they prefer when the table is set to standing height. Remember, it’s all about offering everyone a choice.

Offer Active Seating in Your Conference Rooms

While stools are ideal for the standing conference room, you may also want to offer active seating options such as ball chairs or leaning stools that promote positive fidgeting. Active seating allows meeting members to move freely while they sit, encouraging movement in a setting that would normally prevent it. Beware of what type of conference room these seating options are provided in, as the fidgeting active seating promotes can be potentially distracting. We suggest offering these seating options in more casual offices or meeting spaces. 

Hold Active Meetings Outside the Office

If possible, try holding meetings outside the office from time to time. Even a short walk to a new location will get employees moving, which gets those creative juices flowing. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you can even try holding the meeting while walking. This type of meeting is typically only viable with a small number of participants, and you should make sure that everyone is on board with it before the meeting. Not everyone is physically able to walk for even short distances.

 

Conference Rooms
Ergonomics
Employee Wellness

More From NBF

Now Trending: Active Working

This month, the NBF team headed to Neocon, North America’s most important design exposition, for yet another year of commercial office furniture inspiration and trend watching. Among the many new trends that were spotted was the overarching idea of incorporating more movement in the office environment.

How to Stay Active at Work without Leaving Your Desk

By now we've all heard that sitting is the new smoking, but staying active at work is easier said than done in most offices. After all, what can you do when you're chained to your desk for 40 hours a week? The answer is that there's a lot you can do, and these are just a few of the tools that can help.

Complete Guide to Active Seating

What is active seating? Active seating allows you to move around while sitting. While you may have heard that sitting is the new smoking, you may not know that extended periods of standing also have negative health effects. To combat this, we recommend keeping at least one type of active chair or stool at your desk to sit at when you aren’t standing or relaxing at work. Below you'll find some of the most popular types of active seating available. 

Leaning Stools

A leaning stool or perch stool is a stool seat on a long, pole-like base that forces the user to lean back and shift his or her weight back and forth to maintain a stable seated position. We recommend using a stabilizing footrest along with your leaning stool to prevent your feet from sliding while you lean. Some options even come with a built-in anti-fatigue mat for optimal comfort. Tall or short? No need to worry. All leaning stools come with an integrated seat height adjustment, so you'll be able to find your ideal seated position with a flick of your wrist.

Balancing Stools

Like leaning stools, balancing stools consist of a height-adjustable seat that points straight up like a standard stool. The difference? Balancing stools sit atop a wobbling base, forcing the user to shift his or her weight to sit upright. The flexible base allows the user to adjust the angle of the seat any which way, allowing for an active sitting experience that promotes fidgeting and a greater range of motion while seated. Like leaning stools, balancing stools are available in an assortment of upholstery types, including fabric and faux leather.

Ball Chairs

Possibly the most well-known product on this list, the ball chair allows users to bounce and lean while they sit. These balls have been used as chairs for years already, but if your exercise ball is always bouncing away from your desk, you may want to go for an option specifically designed for use in an office setting. For example. the Zenergy ball chair by Safco has 4 legs and feet that keep the unit in place at your desk so you can bounce with freedom while you work.

Kneeling Chairs

A kneeling chair may look challenging, but this ergonomic seating option is designed to encourage proper posture. The position of the seat and knee pads forces your body into a forward position, causing you to have to balance to sit up straight. Kneeling chairs have been known to reduce the pressure from long-term sitting, allowing your diaphragm to move efficiently, thereby promoting better breathing and blood circulation.

 

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

Your comment has been sent.

National Business Furniture’s team of experts is dedicated to helping you create a better space to work. We’ll help you find the best information. From office planning and furniture guides to sustainability and workplace trends, we’re here to help.