This is Pausit

Pausit was founded in 2006 by Niklas Palmér, an experienced kinesiologist and osteopath who ran his own private practice. During his tenure as a private practice owner, Nicklas experienced that a majority of his patients had recurring repetitive strain injuries (RSIs). After a bit of research he quickly discovered that this stemmed from either sedentary lifestyles or poor workplace ergonomics. 

To help treat patients that suffered from RSI discomfort, Niklas provided his clients with exercises to do at home. To help illustrate the exercises they should focus on, he used stick figures to model the movements they would do on their own. The stick figures quickly multiplied and a thought emerged to develop a tool that could help more people prevent similar injuries. That’s where the idea for Pausit was born.

After some initial research with various stakeholders in his community,  he came to understand their needs and preferences regarding wellness in the workplace and how it could tie in with the Pause program. The outcome of his survey was that the most important aspect of having a pause program is the ability to individually customize exercise sessions, and a reliable reminder function for the participants. 

Clients returned time and time again with the same issues – injuries stemming from poor workplace ergonomics.

Pausit was developed based on the preferences of businesses, and the Deskercises were created in consultation with physiotherapists, ergonomists, psychologists, and orthopedic doctors.

In May 2009,the first version of Pausit was launched, and in 2024 Pausit Coach saw the light of day for the first time. Some companies that Pausit has had  the honor of working with for many years are the City of Gothenburg and ABB, who have offered their employees active movement breaks for over a decade.

Pause-happy customers

500+

companies

90+

municipalities

55+

other government agencies

We have a license for all employees and the response from the various operations is very positive. Pausit really helps to take that needed break thanks to its simplicity and the exercises are easy to follow. The addition of breathing exercises has been appreciated by many and since the program is easy to customize individually in terms of both exercises and times, it suits us as a large organization perfectly.

Linnéa Nilsson Health strategist, Borås municipality

Pausit is cool! Doing a Pausit has become a natural part of the day. I sometimes have external visitors when Pausit pops up in the bottom-right corner. You just have to roll with it and ask your visitors to join you in a short Pausit. The guests are impressed by Pausit and find it to be a fun part of the meeting.

Conny Wilén IS Sourcing Manager, ABB

The Swedish National Audit Office have been using the digital exercise break software Pausit since April of 2011. In this way, the employer wants to offer all employees a chance to have their important “short” breaks from work in an easy and structured way. The employees like the software, mainly because it allows them to individually choose what exercises to do and when to do them during the day.

Anders Thidholm HR-strategist, National Audit Office

Pausit is an obvious partner in the promotion of sustainable workplaces and working life for our customers and has become a natural part of our own employees’ work day.

Peter Tigerberg Product Manager, Avonova Hälsa AB

I finally have my own personal trainer, who patiently and open-mindedly returns several times per day with the sole purpose of making me feel good! The software sees a lot of use at our Swedish head office and it is only natural for our 300 employees around the world to now also be given access to Pausit.

Gunilla Melstad HR Manager, Diakonia

Healthy employees and a more enjoyable working day are some of the reasons why we at the Medical Secretary Staffing Unit at Sörmland County Council choose to use Pausit.

Sörmland County Council

Sitting is harmful

In today’s society, we’re often stuck sitting for most of our day—whether it’s at work, in the car, or at home. This sedentary lifestyle, worsened by poor workplace ergonomics, poses serious health risks. Our bodies thrive on movement, yet the modern norm of prolonged sitting leads to neck, shoulder, and arm aches, and over time, escalates to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and stress sensitivity. Dubbed as “The New Smoking,” sitting too much clearly isn’t cut out for us.

Active breaks are essential.

 While our bodies need stress to stay healthy, it must be varied and moderate. Office routines, with their monotonous and repetitive tasks, subject our muscles to continuous, static stress. This diminishes blood circulation, leading to muscle fatigue, pain, and cramps. It’s crucial to mix up our daily routines with movement to keep our bodies functioning optimally.