Created: Feb 18, 2026 07:56 AM
Get moving: Betty Doyling after running in the 2025 Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby (Photograph supplied) May 23, 2025
This article is mainly for employers, managers, executives, team leaders, and anyone who shapes how the workday actually functions. Recently, I had a client tell me that when she returns from maternity leave, she may need to skip her workouts because her meetings will “take precedence”. Her sessions are thirty minutes long. That’s it. Sixty minutes a week.
One hour. And it made me stop and think. Are we really saying that 2.5 per cent of a standard workweek is too much to dedicate to an employee’s physical and mental health?
We’re approaching completing the first quarter of the year and now is a great time for employers to pause and look at the culture of the workplace.
Not by adding more objectives to the agenda, but by rethinking how the workday functions. Supporting employee fitness shouldn’t be a fluffy perk.
It’s a smart, strategic investment in how people actually perform at work. We’ve normalized nicotine breaks throughout the day, but what if we normalized movement instead?
If employees can step away to vape, they can step away to move. Rather than a vape pause, imagine a brief reset, a few intentional minutes that enhance clarity, productivity, and health.
Fitness Isn’t a Distraction, It Supports Your Work
We’ve all seen it. Employees who move regularly tend to be more focused, less stressed, more creative, and far more resilient when things get busy. They’re also less likely to burn out or constantly call in sick.
In real terms, a 30-minute workout often does what a three hour meeting can’t. It clears the mind, boosts energy, and helps people show up sharper and more engaged.
When employees feel physically better, they think better. That benefits everyone.
Work Smarter, Not Just Longer
Workplaces demand constant problem solving, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. Exercise directly supports all of that. Movement improves mood, reduces anxiety, and sharpens decision-making. Exactly what you want from your team.
A mentally supported employee isn’t dragging through the day or counting down to Friday. They’re in the moment. They’re confident. They contribute more. Not because they’re forced to, but because they actually have the mental capacity to.
Fit Employees Save Companies Money
Here’s the practical side: fewer sick days, lower healthcare costs, better productivity, stronger retention, and higher morale. When employees feel supported, they tend to stay longer, work better, and positively influence the culture around them. That’s not just good for people, it’s good for your business.
If someone needs just one hour a week to maintain their health and mental clarity, why wouldn’t leadership encourage and protect that time?
Workdays are full and meetings stack up. But companies are run by humans. People with stress levels, limits, and lives outside of work. When employers invest in their employees wellbeing, that investment comes back in focus, loyalty, and performance.
Instead of treating fitness as optional, what if it were seen as essential? An atmosphere where movement breaks are normal. Where mental health isn’t squeezed between calls. Where leaders understand that strong teams start with strong individuals.
Thirty minutes shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s a reset. And organizations that recognize that will see the ripple effects across their entire workplace.
Supporting employee wellness isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s good business. And when our people are well, our island is stronger.
Stay Well & B-Active For Life
• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than a decade of experience. Look for B. ActiveForLife on Facebook
