Just when you start to feel pretty good about your health, a new study comes along to smash it all to smithereens. Apparently, exercising isn’t enough if you sit on your bottom for more than six hours a day.
After doing some quick calculations I realized this is the case for me. Like millions of others, I have a desk job. So I am pretty much forced to sit.
Not only are they saying it’s bad for your health. It could even be killing you!
Why? Our bodies go into shutdown mode when we are sitting. Doing this for long periods of time could result in early death. In fact, sitters are at a higher risk of developing diabetes or dealing with complications if they already have it.
Oh, but it gets worse. Sitters are also at risk of developing several types of cancer such as prostate, breast and colon.
But there aren’t just physical repercussions. Sitting for hours at a time can lead to emotional difficulties such as depression. And if you already suffer from a mental disorder, it could get worse.
It even causes fat cells to produce at a higher rate. So the more you sit, the bigger your bottom can get!
So now that I know my job is essentially “bad” for me, what to do? I’m a writer. I can’t jog in place while doing that. I would guess that most of us who work at a desk don’t have very many options.
One solution is to invest in a walk station. This is a treadmill that has a desk built into it. The idea is to go at a very slow pace throughout the day.
Sounds interesting but guess how much? These can go anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although, there are apparently separate desks you can purchase that attach to an existing treadmill.
If walking and working doesn’t sound appealing to you, then you might prefer a standing desk. These are taller desks that you can’t sit at. It is a much less expensive alternative.
Maybe a walk station or a standing desk isn’t doable for you. So now what?
Well there are things you can do, such as breaking up the time you sit. Don’t sit for extensive lengths of time without getting up. Set an alarm or reminder every 15 or 30 minutes. Then get up and take a lap around the office.
You can also choose the stairs instead of the elevator. Or park as far away as you can, so your walk to and from the office is a little longer. Take a walk during your break and lunchtime.
In other words, find ways to get off that duff!