Keep It NEAT²: Healthier Dispatch Shifts with Small Moves and Smart Design

Dispatchers know that the job is demanding, mentally and physically. You’re always alert and your thoughts are racing, but your body stays still. That stillness takes a toll.

Sitting for long periods stresses your joints, fosters back pain, reduces circulation, and increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Even if you exercise outside of work, research shows that prolonged sitting can still raise health risks.

The good news? You don’t have to run marathons to stay healthy. You just have to Keep It NEAT². We will show you how to step it up.

What is NEAT²?

NEAT stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis: the energy you burn from all the small movements you make throughout the day. Standing, stretching, fidgeting, and walking to the printer all add up.

• Standing burns about 50% more calories per hour than sitting.

• Switching between sitting and standing can burn an extra 300–500 calories a day.

• Tiny movements improve circulation, ease joint strain, and help you stay sharp on the job.

But there’s more to the story.

Movement matters, but it’s easy to miss the simple ways your environment can either support or sabotage those healthy habits. People often overthink it or overlook how small choices can make a big difference.

That’s why we’re introducing NEAT².

NEAT² = Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis + New Ergonomic Awesome Tricks

Here’s how to identify opportunities for movement in your workspace and how thoughtful console and center design can transform those opportunities into everyday reality. These tricks make staying active more than just a possibility; they make it practically automatic.

Ready for easy ways to stay healthier on shift? Here’s your NEAT² cheat sheet, perfect to keep near your console as a reminder:

Design It NEAT²: Console & Center Tips

So now you know what NEAT is—and how individual habits can keep telecommunicators healthier and more energized.

But building a truly NEAT²-friendly center goes beyond personal effort. It’s not just about what dispatchers can do, but how your workspace helps them do it.

Trying to help your team healthy and focused? The right console choice and center layout can transform good intentions into everyday habits by making it natural, and even automatic, for telecommunicators to stay comfortable and keep moving.

Here are some design tips to help your team keep it NEAT²:

Noodle Around → Make Space to Move

Ensure your console layout leaves enough room for dispatchers to shift positions, stretch, and stand comfortably. Height-adjustable consoles are the foundation of a healthy workspace. But even the best sit-to-stand workstation won’t help if your space is too cramped to use it. Plan for smooth traffic flow and give each position the breathing room it needs for natural movement, even during peak call volumes.

Elevate & Adjust → Prioritize Ergonomic Flexibility

Height-adjustable consoles are crucial, but there’s more to it. Beyond simply raising and lowering a desk, true ergonomic flexibility means being able to fine-tune every element of your station.

Advanced focal depth controls allow telecommunicators to adjust monitors forward, backward, higher, or lower, independently of the worksurface. This level of precision helps reduce fatigue, maintain clear sightlines, and support good posture for long shifts.

Add a Stretch → Encourage Quick Resets

Plan open areas in your center to allow for stretching or quick physical resets. Even small movements, such as a quad stretch, shoulder roll, or side bend, can help relieve stiffness and improve circulation.

Need inspiration? Share our Console Yoga Flow with your team. It’s full of discreet, console-friendly stretches that dispatchers can do right at their workstations without missing a beat.

Take Tiny Tours → Build Movement Into the Day

Movement doesn’t always mean leaving the room. Smart design choices can encourage dispatchers to stay lightly active without disrupting workflows. Position printers, supply cabinets, and shared tools far enough away to require a quick walk, but close enough to avoid interrupting critical operations. Consider centrally located storage solutions that provide shared access to supplies, encourage movement, and help keep work surfaces clutter-free.

Double Down → Create a Culture of Movement

Don’t just install ergonomic furniture. Encourage your team to use it. Healthy design is only half the story. To keep NEAT² habits alive, you need a culture that encourages movement throughout the day.

Regular reminders, leadership buy-in, and visible support from supervisors help normalize the practice of moving, stretching, and adjusting consoles as part of the job.

Pro Tip: Download our Keep It NEAT² poster for your team; it’s a fun, visual reminder that small movements make a big difference. Download the poster here.

Why it matters: Lasting health comes from pairing thoughtful design with everyday movement.

The Bottom Line

Dispatching demands focus and stamina, but telecommunicators’ health and well-being shouldn’t take a back seat. By keeping it NEAT², adding micro-movements and ergonomic flexibility into ECC design, you can help your team stay energized, reduce fatigue, and protect their long-term health.

Want help designing a NEAT²-friendly center? Let’s talk. We’re passionate about building spaces that keep dispatchers working comfortably and stay moving for the long haul.

START YOUR PROJECT