Whether it’s being stuck in front of the TV on the sofa or sat at your desk behind a computer all day, sitting down for extended periods of time is well known to have a negative impact on your overall health.
Although their is some debate, many studies have indicated that excessive sitting has links to obesity, type 2 diabetes, someforms of cancer and even early death. It’s also said to slow down your metabolism which regulates your blood sugar, blood pressure and breaks down fat.
In the UK we have a particular problem with sitting down all day, and the average adult spends as much as seven hours a day
sitting or lying down with their muscles compressed. Ask yourself, how much of your day is spent sitting? This could be at work, or relaxing at home but it could also be while you’re travelling to work or eating.
Experts advise that if you want to keep your body in good shape you should try and vary your daily routine to include less sitting down. Here are a few tactics you could try:
- Walk or cycle to work every other day, or if you have a long commute then take a stroll after work or early in the morning before you begin your day
- Take regular breaks away from your desk, get up and make yourself a drink or do a job around the office that might need tackling
- Take your lunch outside the office instead of at your desk
- Buy a hands free set so that you can take calls standing up and walking around
- Have a regular stretch at intermitent periods throughout the day
- Walk to a co-workers desk instead of calling them
- Take up an indoor sport such as swimming or basketball so that you can stay active at the weekends, even when the weather is bad!
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