Cutting calories, getting enough fiber, exercising, and standing up at work – while one of these things might seem unlike the others, it turns out that these are all important steps you can take on a daily basis to stay healthy. Eating right and staying active are familiar methods of keeping fit and avoiding illness, but recent studies have found that even just getting up out of that office chair every once in a while can make a big difference in your health.
Recent studies have linked prolonged periods of sitting with increased likelihood of developing obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Conversely, those who are more mobile during an average workday exhibited lower long-term mortality rates than those spend most of their time sitting.
Any way you look at it, parking it in your chair for too long – as with days, weeks, and years of your career spent sitting at a desk – is certainly not ideal for your health. So what can you do to stay moving at work?
The Standing Desk
Speaking of innovative office design furniture, the standing desk is the newest productivity trend. For many, keeping the creative juices flowing means keeping the blood flowing, and this has led to many opting for a standing desk set up. Not only will this be good for productivity, it keeps employees healthy and happy by avoiding the harmful effects of too much sitting
Skip the Email, Walk to Talk
Luckily, the newest office design trends are catered toward an open floor plan to facilitate maximum employee interaction and teamwork, making periodic mobility almost unavoidable. In an open office environment, get in the habit of walking over to a teammate’s workspace for a discussion rather than sending an email. It might not seem like much, but this small amount of activity can add up throughout the day and week, amounting to a significantly more “active” career.
Take the Stairs
The oldest trick in the book still works wonders, so if you’ve got the time to spare, skip the elevator and hoof it instead. It’s a quick and easy way to get the heart pumping daily, giving you a much-needed spurt of extra energy. And of course, you’ll combatting obesity and heart disease while you’re at it!
No matter how ergonomical your seat at the office might be, we all feel the stiffness and lethargy set in after sitting for a long week (or even day) of work. Getting up periodically can help reduce the discomfort that comes from prolonged sedentary periods, as well as reduce your risk of disease. So what are you waiting for? Get moving!
