Body at work: energy, movement and rest for staff

The Body area of wellbeing is about physical energy: how well people sleep, how much they move, what they eat and drink, and whether they get proper breaks. It sounds personal, and in many ways it is. But the working day shapes all of it, from shift patterns and meeting schedules to the snacks in the kitchen and whether anyone feels able to leave their desk at lunch.

When people have more physical energy, they tend to concentrate better, feel more patient and get more done. This guide covers what employers can influence without being intrusive.

What the Body area covers

• Sleep: getting enough rest to start the day with energy.
• Movement: regular activity, and not sitting still for hours at a time.
• Food and hydration: eating and drinking in a way that keeps energy steady.
• Breaks: pausing during the day so tiredness does not build up.

Where work gets in the way

• Back-to-back video calls with no time to stand up.
• Early or late meetings that cut into sleep, especially across time zones.
• A culture of eating lunch at the desk, or skipping it.
• Shift patterns that change at short notice.
• Long drives or long periods on your feet with few chances to rest.

Practical changes that help

Shorten the default meeting

Setting calendar defaults to 25 or 50 minutes gives everyone a few minutes to move, refill a water bottle or get some daylight between calls.

Make breaks normal

Leaders who step away for lunch give everyone else permission to do the same. For frontline and shift teams, make sure breaks are scheduled and protected rather than squeezed in.

Respect sleep

Avoid sending non-urgent messages late in the evening, and give as much notice as possible of shift changes. Predictable schedules make a big difference to rest.

Encourage movement without making it a competition

Walking meetings, team step challenges and bike-to-work schemes can all help, as long as they are inclusive. Offer options for different abilities and make taking part genuinely optional.

Look at what is on offer

Water within easy reach, a few healthier snack options and somewhere pleasant to eat away from desks are small, visible signs that you care about energy, not just output.

Check workstations

In the UK, employers must assess workstations for staff who regularly use screens, including those working from home. A comfortable set-up reduces aches and makes long days easier.

Keep it respectful

People's bodies, health and habits are private. Focus on changing the working environment and the options available, rather than commenting on individuals. Support should feel like an invitation, never a judgement.

The six areas of employee wellbeing

This guide is part of a six-part series on the areas of life that shape how people feel at work. Each one is useful on its own, but they work best together: pressure in one area usually spills into the others.

• Mind
• Body (you are here)
• Career
• Money
• Relationships
• Surroundings

Measuring Body across your organisation

Good intentions are hard to judge without a baseline. OptiMe Pulse is a short, anonymous check-in by email that asks employees how they are doing across six areas, including Body. There is no app to install and no account to create. You get a report by team and location, and results only appear for groups of five or more people, so no one can be identified. Pricing is flat by organisation size, from £39 a month.

If you want to go further, the full OptiMe app gives every employee their own private plan across the same six areas. Their answers stay private; you only ever see anonymous team trends. Book a 30-minute call to see how it would work for your team.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Body area of wellbeing include?

Sleep, movement, food and hydration, and taking regular breaks during the working day.

How can employers support sleep without being intrusive?

Avoid non-urgent late-night messages, limit very early or late meetings, and give plenty of notice of shift changes.

Are step challenges a good idea?

They can be, if they are inclusive and optional. Offer different ways to take part so no one feels left out.

What is the quickest change we could make?

Shortening default meeting lengths gives people time to stand, move and rest between calls, at no cost.