I want to live longer! Don’t you?
A recent study published in a medical journal1 has shown that spending more than three hours sitting down each day can cut life expectancy by up to two years.
In contrast, those who spend most of the day on their feet live longer, healthier lives. These findings back up a strong body of evidence that shows that sedentary lifestyles contribute to health problems and premature death. This is yet another reason to get active and improve your health.
Spend More Time On Your Feet
Cutting down the amount of time you spend sitting is easier said than done if you work in an office. However, there are some simple steps you can take to limit the amount of time you spend sitting down.
Spend More Time On Your Feet
Cutting down the amount of time you spend sitting is easier said than done if you work in an office. However, there are some simple steps you can take to limit the amount of time you spend sitting down.
- Take a walk at lunch time rather than spending the break period sitting at your desk or in the canteen.
- If you commute by bus or by subway, give up your seat to another passenger and opt to spend the journey standing up. Although it might not feel like exercise, the minute movements that you make to keep your balance while standing actually help to tone and strengthen the muscles in your back and core.
Stand Correctly
To get the most benefit from the time you spend standing up, practice standing with good posture.
To get the most benefit from the time you spend standing up, practice standing with good posture.
- Pull your stomach in, open your chest, and tilt your pelvis slightly forwards so that your tailbone points down toward the floor. Your shoulders should not be slumped forward, so focus on gently pulling your shoulder blades down your back towards the base of your spine. Keep your head up and stand tall.
Sit On An Exercise Ball
If you are required to sit at a desk during the day, consider asking your employer to allow you to sit on an exercise ball instead of a standard desk chair. Or, sit on an exercise ball while you watch television or read at home.
Sitting on a ball requires you to maintain a good posture in order to stay balanced. Although this might be tricky at first, you will soon adapt to sitting up straight. Sitting on an exercise ball keeps your body active while you work, which has the additional benefit of helping your mind to stay more alert.
Feeling Like You Need to Sit Down?
Some days, all you feel like doing is collapsing into a comfortable chair and staying there for as long as possible.
Feeling Like You Need to Sit Down?
Some days, all you feel like doing is collapsing into a comfortable chair and staying there for as long as possible.
If you feel like this regularly, consider giving your body a nutritional boost to keep your blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day and give you more energy to stand up and be counted.
Also, did you know . . .
EnergyFirst’s Greenergy green drink delivers an intense burst of healthy vegetable antioxidants to your cells, helping them to perform at their best to keep your metabolism running high. We all know that staying active is good for our health, and an EnergyFirst Greenergy or EnergyFirst Protein shake could be just what you need to keep you standing tall throughout the day without feeling tired!
References1 BMJ Open 2012;2:e000828 http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000828.full
References1 BMJ Open 2012;2:e000828 http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/4/e000828.full
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