It seems like sitting down has become one of America’s favorite past times. We sit in our cars for hours in traffic…then we come home and sit on the couch to watch TV….all after sitting at work for 8 hours or more in front of a computer. Doctors say that sitting for more than 6 hours per day can be extremely harmful over the long haul. It causes obesity by promoting fat storage. It also significantly increases chances of heart disease and diabetes. That’s why I’m writing this article to tell you how to avoid death by sitting.
Sitting down all day every day is almost like playing an extended game of russian roulette….The only scary part about the situation is that you might look at that last sentence as an exaggeration of the immensity of the situation. You only have one body and by sitting down constantly, you’re slowly killing it. Our bodies were not meant to sit. They were meant to run, climb, throw, and hunt for food. So here’s how to avoid sitting as much:
Find An Active Job
These days your career might change multiple times throughout your life before you retire……so go find a career that’s active in the first place!
That doesn’t mean that you have to join the marine corps. Even that would be really cool. It’s obviously not for everyone.
Any job that allows you to work on your feet for most of the day would be extremely beneficial.
Standing increases metabolic rate, muscle activation, and blood flow. It also decreases fat storage.
Get A Desk Without A Chair
If you must work on the computer, force yourself to work standing up. It’s really simple…..Raise your desk and trash the chair.
It might take some getting used to the first couple days, but your body will feel a whole lot better after the adjustment stage.
Turn Lunch Into Dumbbells and Resistance Bands
Instead of going to sit down some more at a restaurant to eat lunch, how about hitting the gym, or going to play some basketball?
Eat your lunch before lunch. Bring snacks to work and eat them throughout the day so you’re not hungry. Then you’ll have all lunch break to get your sweat on.
Here’s some healthy snack ideas that are easy to bring to work.
Take Frequent Breaks
If you absolutely can’t get around sitting a lot at work (I don’t buy it…but ok). At the very least you should be standing up to walk around every 15 to 20 minutes.
Do little things to force yourself to stand up. Drinking a lot of water will make you use more bathroom breaks. Also, instead of emailing someone in the same building, go tell them the message face to face.
I hope you liked this article and you take heed on not sitting down so much. Your life depends on it! Please take a second to share this article on facebook. I know you’ll also like to know How To Keep Your Mind On Track While You’re At Work Or School
About Adam Pegg
