Somewhere along the way, typically in middle school, we decided to phase out recess, a.k.a. free time, structured into our day.
But free time is important. Research shows that we focus better, are more productive, and are happier when we take breaks to do something fun or relaxing – or even just something different from our normal.
A big stress reliever that many people feel they don’t have enough time for is exercise. Among work commutes, high-stress job responsibilities, and family time, working out is often the first thing to get booted off the to-do list.
Enter a program called Fitness Zone by the Trust for Public Land (TPL). TPL’s mission is “to create parks and protect land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.” The Trust for Public Land focuses on land, and nature, for people, rather than nature just for nature.
The Trust’s Fitness Zone program provides free outdoor fitness equipment in local parks. A mix of private and public funding contributes these small spaces to anyone passing through a park. They are usually 1,000 square feet or less – full of durable, weather and vandal-proof fitness equipment.
“The efficiency of a Fitness Zone site is much higher compared to a basketball or tennis court, and it’s the least expensive option per energy/calorie units burned,” says Adrian Benepe, director of City Park Development at the Trust for Public Land. “And it attracts a very wide cross-section of users – men and women, young and old, fit and unfit.”
Fitness zones are often built into underserved neighborhoods that lack affordable fitness options, and are more popular in regions with warmer climates. It’s an urban planning program that’s fulfilling the TPL’s mission.
But the concept is an intriguing one when set into a workplace context. Think about adapting the Fitness Zone idea to corporate work environments – building adult-focused opportunities for wellbeing and enjoyment into our surroundings so that we can achieve those things more easily throughout the day.
Imagine an unassuming, simple strength training machine set into an open office floor plate. It might take the place of a foosball table or a third space sofa – something that you and a work buddy do to take a break from your workstation.
The Fitness Zone concept is a creative way to build moments into the workday for something unexpected, active and fulfilling. And for all the thousands of sleek fitness rooms we build into projects, there are countless employees who feel glued to their desks, whether from a high pressure work environment, too many responsibilities, self-consciousness, or lack of motivation (laziness).
Company culture plays a big role here. If the C-suite and middle managers never take breaks or cultivate a culture that supports a short “recess,” employees won’t take advantage of active office perks like the snazzy gym on floor four.
That’s the magic of the Fitness Zone program. It puts fun, active fitness equipment right in our paths.
Finding, and potentially, custom designing, aesthetically attractive fitness and strength zones is a tricky design challenge, but one worth exploring.