Sit Too Much? Here's How You Can Fight the Effects
By Genevieve Cunningham
Sitting is an epidemic. It's funny to think that sitting down has become a problem, but it's really harming our health. Why? It's because we're sitting so much. We sit all day, every day. We sit at work, in the car, and when we get home. Most of our entertainment involves sitting. When we sit too much, it raises the risk of weight gain, heart disease, and the development of blood clots. Unfortunately, we can't always avoid it. We have to sit in the car, and that often includes hours of traffic. We have to sit at the movies and in appointments and various other places. But we have to do something, right? Yes! If you need to fight the effects of sitting, take a look at these tips for getting up, getting moving, and saving your health.
Never Skip Exercise
If you have to sit all day, the least you can do is make sure that exercise stays in your routine. Go for a nightly walk. Visit the gym after work. Join a weekly yoga class. But whatever you do, don't skip! Unless you're sick or injured, make sure that exercise is happening. While this can't erase the effects of sitting too much, it will certainly help you burn calories, keep your muscles strong, and lower the risk that inactivity brings into your life.
Opt for a Standing Desk
If you have any say in the matter, choose to add a standing desk to your office. When you've been sitting too much, you can simply get up and work from a standing position. This option is good for the home too. Put a standing desk in your work station at home (whether that's for work bills, or something else), and use it regularly. While you don't want to be on your feet all day either, a standing desk gives you more options and adds a little movement to your day.
Set a Time Limit
Some people really can't avoid sitting. If this is you, just set time limits all day. Don't sit for any longer than 30 minutes. When your alarm goes off, get up and move. Stretch, walk down the hall, or do whatever you need to do to stretch it out. Though you'll still be sitting for most of the day, this will help break the monotony and the inactivity into smaller, more tolerable pieces.
We all have to sit. But it's so important to balance the sitting in your life with movement. Use these tips to help negate the effects of excessive sitting, and get on track to better health in no time at all.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Marietta, Ga.