Movember – Riding the cobbles.
I recently did a cycling trip to Northern France and Belgium and spent quite a bit of my time riding on the cobbled ‘secteurs’ which are rough sections of road. Those secteurs are very dear to the hearts of a lot of cycling fans, like me, because they feature in the (in)famous one day race called Paris Roubaix, which is also known as the ‘Hell of the North’. Ok, so what has this got to do with Movember?
When I was riding on the cobbles I wasn’t thinking about anything else, I was concentrating solely on where I was on the road, where the ditch was, where the next turn was and what the deep puddles on the road were covering up. I was also riding quite hard, enough to be out of breath. By the end of each cobbled secteur, my hands were tingling and I was grinning broadly. As well as being challenging and a lot of fun, I could tell it was doing a lot for my mental health. It really reminded me in a very practical, and muddy way of the benefits of exercise.
Turning to the workplace, as Movember approaches, it’s a good opportunity for employers and HR professionals to reflect on the importance of supporting men’s mental health in the workplace. One practical and effective way to do this is by promoting exercise as a tool for improving mental wellbeing.
Physical activity has long been recognised as a key contributor to mental health. Exercise releases endorphins – chemicals in the brain that reduce stress and boost mood. It also improves sleep, reduces anxiety, and enhances overall cognitive function. For men, who may be less likely to seek help for mental health issues, exercise can be an accessible and non-stigmatising way to manage stress and improve wellbeing.
Why Focus on Men’s Mental Health?
Statistics show that men are disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, with suicide being the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. Many men face pressures to appear strong and self-reliant, which can make it harder for them to seek help. Encouraging exercise in the workplace can be a subtle yet effective way to support men’s mental health without requiring them to explicitly ask for help.
How Employers Can Help
You probably can’t send everyone to ride the cobbles (although I can highly recommend it!) but you can do things like promote active breaks: encourage walking meetings, lunchtime runs, or stretching sessions to integrate movement into the workday. You could also promote cycle to work schemes.
You could also provide access to gym memberships, fitness challenges, or team sports.
You could use Movember as a platform to discuss men’s mental health openly and share resources, including the benefits of exercise.
By championing exercise as a tool for mental health, employers and HR professionals can play a vital role in supporting men’s wellbeing, creating a healthier, happier workplace this Movember and beyond.
