M.A. Gets into the Blue Zone at work - KMSP-TV

M.A. Gets into the Blue Zone at work

You've probably heard about "Blue Zones." Local author Dan Buettner explored places around the world where people tend to live longer, healthier lives.

Now there's a new frontier. He's taking what he's learned and applying it to workplaces.

M.A. Rosko takes us to Salo, a staffing company, in downtown Minneapolis which is trying to become the first certified Blue Zone workplace.

According to Salo's Gwen Martin, happier, healthier employees are absent less and more productive. Long term, health care costs should go down. Some of the blue zone principles at work at Salo include:

• walking work stations (to incorporate more natural movement)
• ping-pong and foosball (to encourage connecting with co-workers)
• bringing your lunch to work is encouraged (making a meal vs. eating out saves 50-100 calories on average per meal)
• add plants indoors (improves air quality and simply watering plants can burn as many calories as stretching.)