The other day I was at the doctor’s office and there was a man filling out a form at the desk. I overheard the receptionist asked if he’d like to sit and he responded that he’d been sitting all day and he’d rather stand. We can all relate to that, right? How much sitting is too much?
Sitting for long periods of time has been linked to a number of health concerns, including obesity and heart disease. Many of us sit at a desk, behind the screen doing whatever it is we do at our desks. Others sit in our car, whether driving carpool or driving to and from our jobs or driving for a living. Many of us have our meals or snack mindlessly behind the desk or behind the wheel. And then sitting in front of the tv is also part of the problem. Sound familiar? What’s the solution?
Here are some ideas:
1. Get out and move. Take mini breaks just to get out of your chair.
1. Stand while talking on the phone.
2. If you work at a desk for long periods of time, have you ever thought about a standing desk? I am not sure how I feel about a “treadmill desk” but they are on the market. Click here to see the reviews.
3. Take a walk with your colleagues rather than gathering in a conference room for meetings.
4. Go out for lunch. And if you don’t have the time to eat out, don’t order in, go and pick it up for yourself.
5. Walk to and from your appointments.
Moving, even leisurely movement, can be profound. For starters, you'll burn more calories. This can lead to weight loss and increased energy.
Plus, the muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger important reactions related to the breakdown of fats and sugars within the body. When you sit, these responses stall — and your health risks increase. When you're standing or actively moving, you kick the processes back into action.
Hope this has inspired you to get up and go! Especially while the weather is nice, take advantage of it!