Londoners working from home on a Monday are skipping exercise and feel more demotivated and stressed as a result, research has found.
A study found that 71 per cent of people felt “sluggish” and as if they were playing “catch up” for the rest of the week after neglecting a workout on a Monday.
The introduction of Plan B restrictions last month saw most workers return to their homes, though Boris Johnson has been urged to scrap working from home guidance at the end of the month to boost London’s economic recovery.
According to a study conducted by Fitness First, nearly half (45 per cent) of Londoners said that exercising on a Monday made them more productive.
More than a third of people (36 per cent) who exercised on Monday found their eating habits and nutrition were positively impacted for the week, while 41 per cent admitted that working from home had made it more difficult for them to exercise.
Meanwhile, over a third (36 per cent) said that exercise had become more difficult after the coronavirus pandemic.
Even before the introduction of Plan B measures, many Londoners were only working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays in the office as part of more flexible working patterns offered by firms.
Internal data from Fitness First found members who attended their gyms on a Monday visited a further three times during the week, while skipping the gym on a Monday meant they only attended 1.5 times during the week.
Charlotte Armitage, a psychologist and wellbeing expert, said: “A contributing factor impacting our motivation levels is the traditional structure of the working week in the UK.
“Given that many people will have weekends as downtime, this filters through into changes in diet and exercise as we allow ourselves a weekend to indulge as a reward for working hard all week.
“This overindulgence can leave us feeling sluggish when the week starts again. Committing to exercise can be a good way to rejuvenate the mind and body to prepare for the week ahead.”
