Spring 2026 brought several events, which energised our Softech | Codespring programming teams. In fact, they were inspired to lace up their running shoes and channel their energy from the virtual world of coding towards the reality of sports. Just as in other areas of their lives, our dedicated colleagues also excelled on the running track. Thanks to their incredible perseverance, they completed the chosen distances at this year’s WizzAir Cluj Marathon despite the unfavourable weather conditions, and at the Crosul Divelor race in the most fashionable and stylish way.
This spring, our enthusiastic programming teams participated in two excellent running events in Cluj-Napoca, achieving outstanding results. A very cheerful group of our women colleagues went running at the Crosul Divelor event in the first half of March. By their attendance they showed that physical activity can simultaneously promote community, fun, and style. Then, on March 28–29, a team of ten of our employees participated in this year’s Wizz Air Marathon – with members of our programming teams representing us in the cross, half-marathon, and marathon distances. Their commitment was clearly demonstrated by the fact that they all successfully fulfilled the goals they set for themselves, despite the unpredictable weather conditions.
What we knew all along, yet we forgot
As children, we instinctively did the “right” thing: when we heard music, we started dancing and moving to the beat. We felt better outdoors, in nature than in crowded, enclosed spaces. If we had to sit in one place for a long time, we involuntarily started fidgeting and moving to keep our bodies in motion. This, of course, contributed not only to our physical but also to our mental development. However, when we grew up and started working – especially if we chose a job that keeps us glued to an office chair for 8 hours a day – the increased mental strain and long work hours risked upsetting the balance of our physical and mental health.
Less physical activity, less time spent outdoors, and bad posture while sitting in front of a computer not only have a negative impact on our physical well-being and energy levels, but the accumulated stress, isolation, and potential lack of social interaction can negatively affect our mental and emotional well-being as well. And if we’re working on a project whose results aren’t necessarily visible by the end of each day, after a while we may experience a feeling of ineffectiveness, which can pave the way for burnout.
From the virtual world of programming back to our true selves
Aware of all these effects, more and more members of Softech | Codespring programming teams are realizing the importance of making physical activities a regular part of their lives. Many of our colleagues – from the youngest to the most experienced – truly believe that effective mental development goes hand in hand with physical exercise.
In such a large team, we encounter a wide variety of outdoor and indoor training activities. Some of our colleagues opt for the gym, engaging in individual or group workouts. Others enjoy hiking, while others jump on their bikes as soon as the weather turns sunny. Many people enjoy running, playing soccer or basketball – sometimes together with their colleagues –, playing table tennis, practicing martial arts, boxing, or even testing their skills in Spartan races. Thus, they not only adopt a healthy lifestyle but also set new challenges for themselves outside their work, combining pleasure with practical benefits.
What Beats Coffee
What kind of wide-ranging positive impact do sports have on the members of our programming teams (and beyond)?
- Anyone who makes the effort to “get up from their chair” before or after their eight-hour workday and fits in even a short but regular workout is already taking the first step toward improving their physical condition. Increased fitness leads to better posture, firmer muscles, and an overall improvement in physical condition.
- Exercise stimulates endorphin production in the body while naturally relieving the stress that has built up throughout the day. These effects alone have a reviving effect on our mental state as well.
- Achieving new challenges and goals provides a sense of accomplishment that boosts self-esteem. This is especially important for those working on long-term projects where the results of their daily work aren’t always measurable by objective metrics. This way they reduce the risk of burnout, an increasingly common phenomenon among white-collar workers.
- In our pixelated world, the deterioration of our ability to focus and the overload of stimuli is a real threat. Returning from the virtual world to reality and taking a digital detox helps us feel more “present” in our own lives, refocus on the here and now, and recalibrate our stimulation threshold to a healthy level.
- Stepping out of enclosed spaces into the fresh air, feeling the sunshine, and enjoying natural light and colors – even seeing other people – all have a natural stress-relieving and energizing effect.
- Last but not least: as adults, amidst endless to-do lists and logistical tasks, consciously making time for ourselves that is truly all about us and recharging our batteries is, itself, a form of therapy.
All these positive effects naturally extend beyond our personal lives. They also have a significant impact on our performance at work.
Complex problems require a balanced individual
We at Softech | Codespring are proud of every employee who puts effort into maintaining a healthy work-life balance. By doing so, they bring many other positive qualities to our table besides their professional expertise, which contribute to the growth of our community – both directly through their work performance and indirectly. Our programming teams benefit greatly from their physical and mental well-being fostered by sports, their positive attitude, their ability to work in a team, their perseverance, and their commitment to continuous growth and self-improvement.
We therefore believe that it is in our best interest to support our employees in participating in community sports and outdoor activities. We encourage our employees living in the vicinity of each of our offices (Cluj-Napoca, Târgu Mureș, Odorheiu Secuiesc) to explore such opportunities in their own areas, and where possible, we back-up the team to attend and sponsor the organizer to make a successful sporting event.
Our best representatives: our people
We believe that nothing promotes us more effectively than the broad smiles, energy, and perseverance of our enthusiastic, motivated colleagues. They proudly represent our company in branded apparel outside the office, on various occasions. Through their actions, they demonstrate their ability to push through their inner doubts and overcome the setbacks that might prevent them from reaching their goals – both on the running track and in the office. Obviously, each of these events is just the culmination, the visible result of a long-term preparation process, the fruit of every team member’s own individual merit and effort.
And the fact that they do all this as a team, in such a positive spirit, shows that individual performance isn’t the only thing that matters to them. By motivating, supporting each other, they are all capable of achieving better results than they could on their own. Even the smallest distance counts when it comes to self-improvement and maintaining our health – so let’s celebrate even those who have decided to get active in recent weeks or months, or are just now considering taking up the habit.
Investing in our programming teams
We therefore remain committed to supporting our employees to reach their full potential not only in their projects but also in sports and other hobbies they enjoy. We support them in numerous ways: by setting up a company gym, offering the opportunity to visit the Adrenalin Park, including hiking opportunities in team-building trips, and providing financial support for participation in various sporting events. All of these are investments in the future and stability of our community.
Softech | Codespring is an organically growing IT company with a 28-year history in Transylvania. For our constant growth, besides using most up-to-date technology and delivering high-quality work, we also feel it essential to invest in our community, including not only our diverse team of colleagues but also their family members.
If you feel that our values align with yours, send your CV directly at jobs@softech.ro and give yourself a chance to grow with us!