Before you get too much further into this article, think about how long you have been sitting at your desk (or simply just sitting wherever you are). Many of us spend more time sitting than we probably should, and most of that time is spent sitting at work – if you have an office job. Being sedentary for too long has actually been linked to increased risk for various health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and even premature mortality.
Based on what we know about the health risks of being sedentary for long periods of time, many of us are starting to look for ways to get moving more. From smartphone apps that remind us to stand up, to walking meetings, treadmill desks, and standing desks, there are a variety of ways you can get out of your chair more often.
Just how much of a difference is there in calories burned during sitting, standing, and walking? This article in The New York Times discusses a recent study that was conducted to determine the answer to that question. Walking actually burns about three times as many calories as those burned while standing or sitting. You can check out the full article here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/06/22/how-many-calories-we-burn-when-we-sit-stand-or-walk/
There are some quick and easy steps you can take to make sure your sitting time gets interrupted a bit throughout the day. The infographic below has a few good ideas you can incorporate. Print it out and leave it on your desk for a daily reminder. Some other tips to get moving at work include:
- Take a break after you finish a task. Stand up, stretch, and go get a drink of water.
- Take the long way to a meeting or take the stairs to another floor’s restroom.
- Skip instant messaging – when possible, walk to communicate.
- Park further away from your office.
- When sitting, change your position often and focus on maintaining good posture.
