For many of us, our jobs are built around screens, meetings, and long periods of sitting. While our brains may be active, sedentary behavior and inadequate levels of physical activity can negatively impact our health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, “Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes and several cancers. It also helps to maintain a healthy body weight and can improve mental health, quality of life and well-being” (WHO, 2026). Incorporating movement into your daily routine can help you wake up your muscles, sharpen your focus, and even boost your energy. The following tips and campus resources are available to help. 

• MSU University Health and Wellbeing’s Move More @ Work campaign encourages “Spartans to engage in physical activity and movement throughout the workday” and they are offering the following activities for employees this summer:  
  • Register for Desk Decompress:  Every Thursday from 2 to 2:15 p.m. this summer through August 13. This virtual 15-minute class will stretch and strengthen your wrists, neck, spine, and shoulders, all from the comfort of your own desk! Movements can be done sitting or standing. 
  • Sign up to Move in The Garden: Most Wednesdays this summer, a certified instructor will lead you through low-impact exercises and movements designed to improve flexibility, mobility, strength, and balance while enjoying the fresh air and sounds of nature during a midday garden-based movement break. Bringing your own mat or towel is advised, as some movements will be on the ground.  
• Try out a group fitness class! MSU faculty and staff can purchase a membership to access the many services provided at MSU Recreational Sports and Fitness, including swimming, group fitness classes, and much more. New this year, check out MSU’s new Student Recreation and Wellness Center, the largest of the four Recreational Centers on campus!  
• One of the easiest ways to add exercise to your daily routine is to attach it to an activity or habit you perform already, such as your commute to work. MSU Bikes provides support with commuter resources to help you bike to work with confidence, including a 1-on-1 Bike Commuter Assistance service which helps you find the safest, lowest-stress route to and from campus to your neighborhood. MSU Bikes also rents bikes to departments for staff to use during the work day with their Department Fleet Services. Bikes are a great way to get around campus for meetings, lunches, errands, or a nice break! Save the hassle of traffic, offer a healthy alternative for your staff breaks/on-campus transportation, and avoid problems finding car parking by adding a bike to your department transportation fleet. If you’re working remotely, find several Greater Lansing area biking groups to join instead. The MSU Bikes Service Center also offers new and used bikes, rentals (long and short term), as well as a repair service   
• Take a walk around campus! Check out the Campus Meditation Map to learn more about over 25 different landmarks across MSU’s campus. You can also follow the MSU Self-Guided Walking Tour to explore areas of campus you have yet to see while on a break. 

Sources:  

“Physical Activity.” World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/health-topics/physical-activity Accessed 12 May 2026. 

Opening image provided by MSU University Communications Photography and Videography.