Take a Walk! It Could Help You Do Your Job Better
Every time I see the title of yet another article about the risks of sitting too much, I jump up out of my chair. I remain standing while I read the article and for several minutes thereafter. Then I slump back down.
I both believe and resent the research that finds that even if you exercise a lot, sitting too much is bad for your health. It just doesn't seem fair that despite hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, yoga, and more, I should have to pay a price for occasionally being a slouch potato.
Information has seeped out on precisely how long is too long to sit at one time, and how long one must stand in between sittings to offset the risks of sitting. Unfortunately, it's beginning to look as if it's not just the sitting time between periodic standing, but rather the total time sitting in a day that poses the risks. For example, the risks of sitting at your desk for six hours a day are ominous. And if you're like me, then sitting for six or more hours a day is more than just an occasional thing.
Still, even if you have a desk job, there are things you can do to minimize your risk. Taking a walk during your lunch break not only gets you standing, it may also boost your mood and your ability to handle stress on your job. You can also periodically stand up and walk around, do some stretching exercises, or sit on an exercise ball.
If you're not one of the lucky people who has a treadmill desk or a standing desk, even just standing for a couple of minutes every half-hour can help. (By the way, both treadmill desks and standing desks have potential pitfalls for some people, proving that one solution does not serve all.) Hmmm, maybe the idea of a standup meeting can be extended throughout the day.
I'm still seeking info on whether lying down has the same risk as sitting, i.e., if I watch a movie while flopped out on the couch, is that as bad as sitting? Thus far, the findings are sparse.
Time for a walk. See you later.
