Hard-pressed office workers in China are incorporating exercise into their work day by jogging with laptops, lifting lunch packs, doing yoga while worshipping, and office chair Pilates.
Dubbed the “5-minute quick-charge workout”, the practice has gathered momentum across the mainland.
In early July, an internet user posted a picture on Xiaohongshu of a colleague engaging in a quick-charge workout while waiting for the lift, and captioned it, “Office workers have their own gym.”
The images show a woman with a lunch delivery bag in one hand and a canvas bag in the other, which she was using in place of dumbbells and lifting them repeatedly while waiting.
She also had several food delivery bags tied around her waist, adding weight to her workout.
The colleague called her a genius, saying: “She always volunteers to bring lunch for everyone from downstairs, describing the trip as a weighted workout.
“Since she sits in the office all day with no time to go to the gym, she manages to have a quick workout while carrying takeaway or waiting for the lift, thus saving on gym fees,” the colleague said.
In another post, someone told how an intern at their company brings a yoga mat to work for exercise sessions. They asked: “I’m tempted to join in, what should I do?”
The intern had an iPad displaying the God of Wealth in front of her yoga mat, thus integrating worship into her yoga routine.
Her actions sparked vivid discussions online.
“This is genius, multitasking at its finest. Worship, exercise and a little slacking off at work all at once,” quipped one person.
Other short workouts shared online include Pilates while sitting on office chairs, swinging a badminton racket and lifting water barrels.
Chang, a copywriter from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, shared her exercise approach with Jiupai News. She jogs to the metro station while carrying her laptop.
“My computer is a bit heavy, so it feels like weight training,” she said.
Chang embraces the quick-charge workout because she does not like all the hassle of joining a gym.
“I’m afraid I will not stick with it and waste my money,” she said.
“A 5-minute quick-charge workout is more manageable for us office workers who often work overtime and do not have much spare time. Also, it energises me during work when I’m tired,” Chang added.
She also said that the bursts of exercise are beneficial to her psychological well-being because they help “release some negative emotions” throughout the day.
Others have been sharing their speedy fitness routines online.
“Yes, my workout is picking up packages for my boss. When it gets heavy, I think of it as arm training,” one person said.
Another said they have a daily sprint to work: “I run 800 metres in three minutes every day to clock in on time. Lately, it feels so easy.”