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Reinforcing the Benefits of Moving More: The Journey of BeUpstanding

BeUpstanding Stories

We did it! We made a stand for our health. After two months of standing, moving, and embracing new habits, we’ve reached a significant milestone in the BeUpstanding program. But this is just the beginning of a journey toward happier and healthier lives. In weeks 6 and 8 of the program, the focus shifts to reinforcing the benefits of sitting less, celebrating our collective achievements, and setting the stage for lasting change. But what makes this part of the program so effective? Let’s explore how BeUpstanding, with its foundation in behaviour change theory, uses strategic messaging in weeks 6 and 8 to keep momentum strong and ensure sustained success. As discussed in our previous blog, BeUpstanding is grounded in robust behavioural change frameworks like the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), composed of the COM-B model, and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). These models help guide the design of the program, ensuring it addresses not just individual behaviours but the broader social and environmental contexts that influence those behaviours. Here’s how BeUpstanding uses theory to keep workers engaged towards the end of the program and in the future: Capability As we near the end of the program, it’s crucial to reflect on the progress…

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Push through the slump: how BeUpstanding’s evidence-based strategies keep you mooving

BeUpstanding Stories

Hit a Hump? Don’t Let It Slow You Down! We’ve reached the halfway point of the BeUpstanding program, a time when motivation often dips, and you may start to feel the natural slowdown in momentum. It’s completely normal to feel like you’re losing steam, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop! Weeks 4 and 7 are designed to keep things fresh and help you push through the mid-program hump by introducing new moves and strategies. But what makes these messages effective? It’s all down to the behavioural change theories that shape them, ensuring that the program is based on evidence and proven strategies to combat these hurdles. Let’s break down how this messaging works, using two key frameworks: the Capacity, Opportunity. Motivation (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). These theories explain why we behave the way we do and how to change that behaviour.   Capability As we hit the mid-program stage, it’s crucial to focus on the ability to maintain momentum and avoid slipping back into old habits. One of the biggest challenges at this point is being aware of how often you’re sitting and standing. Messages like “Identify your danger zones” encourage workers to actively self-monitor their…

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Educate to Elevate: The Theory Behind BeUpstanding Weeks 2 and 5

BeUpstanding Stories

Feeling foggy? You’re not alone. When we sit for too long, our blood flow and metabolism slow down. This means less oxygen is supplied to our brain and we can feel fatigued and sluggish. So why not jump up and start feeling more focused and less tired? That’s exactly what the BeUpstanding intervention is all about, especially during weeks 2 and 5, where the focus is on education and empowerment. These crucial weeks centre around the risks of prolonged sitting and the benefits of standing and moving more. But this isn’t just about throwing facts at you—it’s about strategically targeting the barriers and facilitators of behaviour change, as recommended by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). Let’s break down how this messaging works through the lens of the Capacity, Opportunity. Motivation (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). These frameworks have been explored in more detail on our previous blog post. Capability Understanding the risks associated with sitting too much and the benefits of being more active is one of the biggest barriers for people to sit less and stand more. Weeks 2 and 5 of the BeUpstanding intervention address this by enhancing psychological capability, with a focus on the…

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Get Up and Get Moving: The Power of Good Theory in BeUpstanding Weeks 1 and 3

Key resources

We’re leaping into action! We’ve committed to BeUpstanding, and now it’s time to get moving! That’s the focus of weeks 1 and 3 in the BeUpstanding program—bringing the team together and taking action to make sitting less and standing more the new norm. Starting a new behaviour can be daunting—where do you begin? How do you overcome the discomfort of changing workplace habits? It’s perfectly normal to feel uncertain about trying something new. That’s why the first week of the BeUpstanding program emphasises togetherness and reinforces the group’s commitment. This focus continues into week 3, which highlights the importance of normalising the new behaviour to sustain long-term change. As previously explored, the BeUpstanding program was developed with the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) in mind. The program starts strong by addressing some of the most common barriers and facilitators of behaviour change, guided by the Capacity, Opportunity. Motivation (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) layers of the BCW. Capability Understanding the guidelines for standing time in the workplace is crucial at the start of the program. It’s a key facilitator of behaviour change, as many people are unaware of how long they should be standing, which poses a significant…

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The Science Behind Getting Up: How Theory Shapes the BeUpstanding Program

Key resources

BeUpstanding encourages workers to “stand up, sit less, and move more.” This 8-week program uses a “train-the-champion” approach, equipping workplace leaders with resources like posters, videos, and email templates to promote a culture of movement, resulting in better health, higher productivity, and reduced stress. But what ensures the program’s effectiveness? The answer lies in the behavioural change theories that underpin it. In this blog, we’ll explore how theory guides intervention development and how BeUpstanding uses evidence-based frameworks. The Importance of Theory in Behaviour Change Theory is the backbone of behaviour change interventions. It helps designers understand not just the behaviour they aim to change but the context in which it occurs. For BeUpstanding, understanding why people sit at work and what motivates them to move more was crucial. Further, theories identify triggers and drivers of behaviour, guiding the selection of techniques most likely to succeed in a given context. Without theory, interventions may fail to address the root causes of the behaviour. Selecting the Right Theory Choosing the wrong theory or applying it poorly can undermine an intervention. Many interventions fail because they: Choose an unsuitable theory, Use the theory incorrectly, Reference the theory superficially, or Address too few behaviour…

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How to motivate your team and keep them motivated

Latest evidence

You are the nominated Champion for your work’s BeUpstanding challenge. Congratulations! But, now you are wondering how to keep your team motivated to stick with it. How will your communications help your team feel driven to see out the challenge to the end? Fortunately, there’s more that you could consider in addition to the helpful resources, reminders and shout-outs at morning meetings. We’ve applied a theory that provides an effective way of supporting sustained motivation as a leader, and adapted the approach to best suit your role as a BeUpstanding Champion. Consider this – if you had all the money you needed to survive and be content for the rest of your life, would you still do some form of work? It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say “no”, if your primary reason for working was to earn an income to sustain your living. If you thought “yes”, what would be your reason for wanting to continue working, when the need to earn money or status is no longer a driving factor? Thanks to Self-Determination Theory (or SDT) co-founders, Richard Ryan and Edward Deci, we’re able to understand how different types of human motivation drives our behaviour. Ryan and Deci formulated…

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