Posted by Baylee
Does your job allow you to be active throughout the day? Yeah, me neither. If you are anything like me you sit at a desk for hours and hours with very minimal physical activity. I want to be more active, but I sometimes find myself missing that motivation to workout or partake in another activity.
Studies show that sitting at a desk all day can cause more than just aches and pains. It can lead to an early death, obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and much more. If that hasn’t scared you to change your activity habits yet then keep reading.
Do you notice yourself getting headaches and migraines more frequently? That’s from staring at your computer screen for long periods of time. The over-illumination from the screen messes with our body’s internal clock causing fatigue, stress, and high blood pressure.
Unfortunately there’s no changing working at a desk all day, but I do have a few tips for staying active during the workday that could help lower your risk of serious health issues and keep you healthy.
Working Out
I know this isn’t for everyone, but this could be very beneficial for your health. Trying to incorporate an hour dedicated to working out could really help your body in staying healthy and maintaining your mobility. This doesn’t mean you have to lift heavy weights and turn into a bodybuilder. You could do yoga, run a mile, or even stretch. There is a study that recommends those who sit daily for 8 or more hours a day should try and exercise for at least 1 hour every day.
Walk Breaks
Take a quick work break and go for a walk around the building. You could even try parking in the farthest parking spot or take the stairs instead of the elevator to get a few extra steps in. This is one of the easiest ways to ensure you are staying active.
Stand Regularly
Try and take the time to stand up and stretch your arms and legs about every 20 minutes. When sitting for long periods of time our body’s start to ache. Maybe even invest in a standing desk so you can spend the majority of your day standing instead of sitting.
Stretching
Try doing some casual stretches a few times a day at your desk. You can do shoulder raises, neck stretches, or even leg raises. This is such a simple way to get the blood flowing through your body.
Moving around causes the brain to release mood-enhancing chemicals, and helps increase your mobility while strengthening your bones and muscles. When you are sitting for several hours in the day your core is not engaged, your neck is strained and your muscles will loosen. These are all things that can lead to health issues down the road. It’s important to make sure you are staying active during the day as much as possible. Try a few of these exercises, find your favorites, and stick to a routine.
Sources:
https://www.cookinglight.com/healthy-living/fitness/how-much-exercise-you-need-after-sitting-all-day
https://www.openfit.com/stay-active-at-desk-job
https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/stay-active-working-desk-job/