How to Stay Active at a Sedentary Work Space

With every new piece of technology that makes our lives easier and more convenient, there’s the potential that it can make us more lackadaisical (cough::lazy) in our approach to staying active in our day. No need to even go to a restaurant or grocery store. Click click click, food delivered. Don’t need to walk to a different building to have a conversation with someone. Type type type, conversation had via text or email. Business Insider tells us that 86% of Americans sit for a majority of the day at their job. That doesn’t even factor in the sitting we’ll do at home while we’re eating meals, watching television, or reading. We sit a looooot.

But is it that big of a deal? What if you watch what you’re eating and really try to exercise a few times a week? Is all that sitting actually hurting anything?

Spoiler alert: yeah, it is. 

The most obvious issue from sitting or slouching all day is on your joints. You’ll be more likely to have issues with back pain, arthritis, bursitis, and the like. But more than that, it actually gives you a higher risk for heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Sitting is one of the most passive things you can do, so it causes your body to go in “coasting mode.” This tells your body to do the least amount of “work,” thereby causing weight gain and all sorts of other troubles. EVEN if you work out regularly.

So what do you do? Walk into the boss’ office and quit immediately. 

Just kidding. Don’t do that. But there are things that you can do to squeeze in a little bit more activity while you’re at work.