Tips for getting around at work

How long do you spend sitting? If you really calculate it, you would probably be surprised how many hours of your day you spend in your chair. If you work in an office, you will likely spend more than 10 hours sitting during the day. That includes commuting to work sitting in your car, sitting at your desk, as well as sitting at home while you relax. All of this sitting down can be very troublesome for your body. Many people who feel are overweight or obese. They have all kinds of back problems, and their blood pressure and heart health suffer. Even if you exercise during the week and sit the rest of the day, it will not reverse the damaging impact of sitting.

Moving around at work

The most important thing you can do is stand up and move. This is the best way to combat the negative impacts of sitting. The best way to do this is by creating small habits that are incorporated throughout the day. Here are some tips you can use:

• Stand up whenever you can. Some people like to talk on the phone while standing or standing when they don’t need to use the keyboard. You can even switch to a standing desk that will automatically adjust from sitting to standing height.
• Take a short break for a few minutes every hour. Go to the bathroom, go for a jog, or just go for a 5 minute walk. Talk to your co-workers (about work-related matters so you don’t get in trouble). This will change things up in your sitting routine and prevent your body from atrophying.
• Stretch out on your desk. It can take 30 seconds to stand up and stretch. Make sure to stretch your arms, shoulders, and legs every hour or more.
• Switch to a treadmill desk. This may seem far-fetched, but many people use walking treadmills instead while working. I’m not sure how productivity is affected, but it sure will keep you from feeling down (and probably help you lose a lot of weight).

Regardless of what you decide to do, remember how important it is to get up and move. Many people die prematurely because they don’t get enough exercise. Sitting all day only compounds the problem. Moving and stretching while you work will help you be more productive and healthy.