Boost your brain by increasing movement and activity!

Mars kaamos! step campaign

Ergonomics, a familiar word, but what does it mean in practice? Ergonomics is its own field of science that studies the functions of a human, the environment, and systems in an interactive relationship. Work ergonomics includes the examination of a person’s psychophysical-social wholeness and function in parts. These parts include physical ergonomics, cognitive ergonomics, and organizational ergonomics.

Cognitive ergonomics examines human data processing and interaction with function systems. There are limits in knowledge work and memory functions at the interaction and load between human and technology, just as in physical activity. Cognitive functioning such as working memory gets loaded at work, but the load can be alleviated by developing cognitive ergonomics.

One of the things that most clearly affects cognitive performance is age, which brings neurological and physiological changes. These changes affect cognitive functioning, either directly or indirectly, by impairing adaptation to stress. Cognitive functioning is also challenged by, for example, stress, sleep and health. No one can influence to age, but to above mentioned things we can.

So could it be that just by reducing passivity and increasing activity and movement to the day, the work day could be accomplished with a bright mind, so that thought works even in the evening, not to mention the absence of neck pain and budding headache? Yes you can!

So let your mind rest, and improve your brain health through movement and exercise. Exercise and physical activity can for example:

• Activate the brain in the same way as thinking and social interaction
• Enhance cerebral blood flow and renew connections between brain cells
• Improve sleep quality, which is known to be a significant factor in recovery
• Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Cause a positive change in the size of the brain’s memory center, hippocampus
• Reduce the risk of brain diseases

I would say that exercising is one of the best ways to “reset” the brain and clarify thoughts. Let your body do the work, and boost your cognitive functioning by adding steps to the day in the Mars kaamos! step campaign!