From desk to dip, double quick…
Today (8) marks the busiest ‘back to the office’ day of 2025, with workers in the East Midlands making the most of flexible working and delayed their first commute of the year.
Yet, as the new year begins, a new study by David Lloyd Clubs has revealed that a growing culture of back-to-back meetings is wiping out precious downtime in every working day, making hybrid working less appealing to many.
In fact, 80% of workers are spending up to five hours straight in meetings on an average day, leading us to become a more inactive nation which struggles to make time for wellness.
David Lloyd Clubs offers premium adults only work spaces at all of its East Midlands clubs. So, to save Brits from having to choose between work and working out, they have unveiled the ‘Swim Suit’ collection – the ultimate work(out)wear which helps you get from dip, to desk in a matter of minutes.
The Swim Suit is created with cutting edge fabrics and the groundbreaking hydrophobic clothing collection stays dry after a dip, allowing workers to head back to the clubs to continue their working day in seconds, bone-dry and ready for the next video call.
The ‘Swim Suit’ collection consists of three looks; a classic, sleek suit, a jumpsuit and a sports-luxe polo shirt and trousers – giving the perfect professional look with minimal effort.
The Swim Suit collection was designed to offer flexible working solutions to those who want to combine wellness into the working day. With just a few steps between work spaces, pool, spa, racquets courts, group exercise studios or the gyms, the Swim Suit allows members to forego the changing room and make the most of the extensive facilities within clubs.
Today’s research also reveals that the blight of back-to-back meetings is ‘public enemy number one’, with 81% saying they try to avoid them wherever possible.
In an average week office workers spend over three hours working outside of contracted hours. Meetings impact work-life balance by reducing time for doing important tasks (23%), increasing stress levels (22%) and making people feel tired and sluggish (20%).
What is more, 58% say they find it difficult to prioritise wellness due to their work commitments, 66% say they would take part in more fitness and wellness activities if their job didn’t get in the way, and yet 68% have skipped their lunch break due to their work schedule – a perfect time for some well-deserved wellness time.
To help East Midlanders carve out time for health and wellness, David Lloyd Clubs has partnered with productivity expert Dr Sophie Mort to provide insight on how interspersing elements of wellness throughout the day can actually improve our productivity at work.
The Wellness and Psychology expert, said: “As we head into the new year, it can be hard to carve out time to look after ourselves with the pressures of work and family commitments. Rather than setting unrealistic goals, it’s far more beneficial to form healthy habits that integrate seamlessly into our lifestyles.
“Studies have shown that short ‘snackable’ bursts of activity of as little as 10 minutes throughout the day are effective for both health and productivity. This approach makes exercise more accessible and sustainable — small but consistent efforts add up over time. ”
David Lloyd Clubs marketing director Andrea Dearden, said: “We’ve seen a sharp increase in members basing themselves from our clubs for the day, using our premium work spaces and dipping in and out of the pool, gym, group classes, Spa Retreats or padel courts, making work life much more balanced.
“We believe pockets of wellness throughout the day make all the difference to our overall wellbeing.
The ‘Swim Suit’ collection is truly one of a kind and we’re so pleased to bring to life something we thought we could only wish for to ‘dive’ straight into the new year!”
The collection is currently on trial with the potential to become a wardrobe staple at a later date. For further information about David Lloyd Clubs, visit https://www.davidlloyd.co.uk/