We know this: Too much sitting is bad. However, despite the numerous studies showing how sitting for prolonged periods can result in a host of health problems, people find it difficult get out of the habit. Common behaviors in which human beings now spend so much time — TV viewing, computer use and electronic games, sitting in automobiles — has made people culturally biased toward sitting, and less open to change.
While TVs, computers, and automobiles will not be going away in the near future, we can still reduce the negative health impact of being sedentary by making small changes to the way we use them.
- Remind yourself to stand up every 20 to 30 miniutes. Better yet, walk around the office and use the stairs if possible. This increases blood flow throughout your body.
2. Prolonged sitting can shorten your hamstrings and make them stiff. Include stretching into your daily routine to loosen up your muscles and soft tissues.
3. Try out different after-hours activities that don’t involve prolonged sitting. For example, you can join a sports league or just take your dog for a walk.
These little changes, when done regularly, can make a big difference over time. So, let’s not sit around and accept the health risks of our sedentary lifestyle, let’s stand up and do something about it!