Four Easiest Ways To Combat Sitting Syndrome
It should go without saying that regular exercise is one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle. That’s something that just about everybody has been told since they were children.
Sadly, getting regular exercise doesn’t always seem possible for those who have to work 40 hours a week or more sitting at a desk in an office.
More and more jobs these days almost seemed designed for those with sedentary lifestyles, and the health of millions of people are suffering because of it.
In fact, a study of more than 200,000 people published last year in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggest that those who sit for 11 or more hours a day are 40 percent more likely to die in the next three years.
That’s a scary thought, but fortunately there are ways of combating that risk and eliminate some other health problems that come from sitting for too long.
Take Short Walks on Your Break
One of the easiest ways to combat “sitting syndrome? is to simply take short walking breaks every 30 minutes. These don’t have to be long breaks — just get up and walk around for two to five minutes.
Take the time to get a drink of water or just walk a lap around your office. It will at the very least keep you semi-active while at work.
Stretch at Your Desk
Simply doing stretches every so often while at your desk can relieve some of the pain to your neck, back and shoulders that are sometimes caused by sitting for too long.
Take a few minutes when you’re not busy to stretch out your arms or your back – see if you can touch your toes!
Maintain Good Posture
When you are sitting and working at your desk, make sure you are maintaining good posture. Sit up straight, keep your elbows near your body when you’re typing and adjust your computer monitor so that it is at eye level.
This won’t help you stay more active, but it will help to mitigate some of the problems that come from sitting too long at a computer.
Pace When You Talk On the Phone
Pacing when you’re talking on the phone can be a great way to stay active at work.
This may not be ideal if you work in tight quarters with other employees, but it’s a great idea if you have a large space to yourself. In fact, you can use phone calls as a cue to stand up and break up your sitting time.
If you have a white-collar office job, sitting for several hours at a time is a necessary evil. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the ill effects a sedentary job can have on your health.
Staying physically active doesn’t have to be as difficult as jogging for several miles or spending all your time at the gym.
Most of the time, people burn calories by simply going about their day, and making a habit of moving around can go a long way in improving your health.
If you find yourself spending most of your time sitting at a computer, consider these simple tips, and remember to get plenty of exercise outside of the office too.
