Is sitting down too much affecting your health?

Today we spend a lot of our time sitting at our desks, driving, watching tv, eating.

Gone are the days where unless you are working in a retail store, you are sitting most of your time awake.

Research done by the Mayo Clinic says that sitting for long periods of time can increase your risk of death!!!!!.

Before I even knew how much time people were spending sitting down, I noticed this in myself.  I found that when I was focused on my writing, research or catching up on social media, hours would go by and I would realize I had not moved at all.

I also realized when I see my clients I am sitting down all the time with them too.  I noticed my legs started to swell up, my sciatica started playing up and my stomach was also swelling and bloated.

I then started to make sure I was moving around more and realized I needed to stand up more, how was I going to do this and do my work at the same time.

I did some research and found myself an adjustable desk which I love and it allows me to keep working but also to stand up part of my day too.

Having an adjustable height desk.

When we work for ourselves we can take breaks, go for a walk or do some exercise, if however, you are working in an office for someone else, or working from home for a company then this luxury can be a challenge for you.

If you have any kind of sciatic pain then sitting for long periods of time can make this worse.  I know because I have had a sciatic challenge for a number of years and I find that after sitting for awhile it gets worse and my leg also swells up.

I have no choice but to stand up because of the pain.   I tried different chairs, different pillows to sit on but the only thing that works is to stand up.

The desk extension is so easy to use and helps so much, I can get on with my work, get my circulation going and not have to worry about meeting deadlines and not getting my work done.

What are the pitfalls for your health when you sit for long periods of time?.

Your Health is Being Affected by Sitting

• poor circulation to your legs
• higher blood pressure
• sciatic problems
• slows down digestion
• Strained neck and shoulders
• posture challenges
• back issues
• hip problems
• Varicose veins
• weak bones

Heart: When you sit, blood flows slower and muscles burn less fat, which makes it easier for fatty acids to clog your heart. Research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, for instance, showed that women who sit for 10 or more hours a day may have a significantly greater risk of developing heart disease than those who sit for five hours or less.

What can you do?

Exercise American College of Cardiology says one hour of exercise a day can be of great benefit if you are sitting for long periods.  There are however other things you can implement throughout the day to help your circulation.

• When you are on the phone get up and walk around
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator
• Take a walk instead of sitting in the break room
• Stand up every 15 minutes
• leg exercises whilst you are sitting
• stretch whilst sitting
• take deep breaths often to get the circulation moving
• be mindful of your posture
• work out for at least 1 hour per day

Set a timer to remind you to stand up or walk around.  When we get busy we are so full of concentration that time can pass by and before you know where you are you have been sitting for 2 hours without moving.

Instead of sending an email to a colleague in the same office walk over to them and use that time to get some circulation going through your body.Especially if they are on a different floor as you can take the stairs and really get some exercise in as well.

Personally, I feel that an adjustable desk is paramount so you can stand up easily and comfortably throughout the day and get your work done. Once you set the desk to the right height for your body you will not get back and neck or leg problems.

If you stand up and work on your computer and the height is not correct then you are going to get back and neck problems.

The one I have is portable so that I can take it with me when I am doing my workshops and traveling so I always have the opportunity to stand up and have my laptop at the right height for me.

Bloggers, web designers, email marketers, and so many more professions spend all their time on the computer sitting down.  With emailing and texting so much easier there is no reason to move as much.

Apart from all the other health issues mentioned there is always the chance you could gain weight being so sedentary all the time.  Your digestive system does not work so well when you are sitting all the time, therefore that is another reason to be moving around.

There are many types of adjustable desks and also ergonomic chairs to help with back and neck issues.  My conclusion would be that if you have not already realized that you are sitting too much, which I am sure you are then please consider the adjustable desk.  You owe it to yourself to be healthy and maintain your income generating work as well.

If you have benefited from this post please share so others may benefit also.