A friend recently asked me how much movement I get in my day since I've become a writer and blogger. The answer is, not much [certainly a lot less than when I used to work at the hospital or Meals on Wheels!].
She told me her husband had recently read that sitting all day is now considered the equivalent of being a smoker. I was horrified at the thought, of course. Having prided myself on never smoking and being active, or moderately active, for most of my life... this was a blow indeed.
The people who are most at risk for the various health issues related to sitting long hours, are, of course, those who have desk jobs. My desk job is quite flexible as a freelance writer. So, I realize there's a lot I can personally do to improve my sitting situation right away.
In fact, shortly after I had that conversation with my friend, my home office got a complete overhaul. I've never been more pleased with the setup, and it's made a huge difference in my back pain, eye strain, and overall concentration levels. It turns out, gentle movement or yoga poses done at a standing desk can be quite energizing.
Thankfully, public workplaces are getting better at putting employee health and safety before budgets and appearances. I'm appalled that there are still offices that would deny an employee a standing desk because it won't "look" right, but I hear that can be a thing.
I don't think that's the norm, however. As preventive health, wellness, and employee satisfaction continues to gain traction, the good new is that many employees can approach employers with requests for more ergonomic work spaces, and they're taken seriously.
If you've got concerns for your own health due to lack of movement, voice them with your employer and see what solutions you can come up with. Ergonomic standing desks, standing mats, well-designed keyboards, etc. are quite reasonably priced these days.
While there are some very fancy and pricey models, you can get a sturdy functional sit-stand desk for $200 or less. Mine was only $120, I think... and adding a wobble board to it brought the total to around $200. A small price to pay for better circulation in my legs and less cramping in my back, for sure!
Health risks to consider when you sit several hours a day:
- Weight gain - this one is due to obvious lack of movement and steps
- Poor circulation - also obvious as we're not moving around enough to keep blood flowing well
- Increased chance of blood clots - also having to do with a decrease in blood circulation [there's a reason why people are encouraged to stand and move during long airline flights]
- Long bouts of sitting can also make blood sugar harder to regulate
- Higher blood pressure and cholesterol has also been linked to long hours in a chair
Some great ways to combat these risks include:
- Invest in a standing desk - or at least one that can be adjusted for sitting and standing
- Walk on your breaks - including a longer walk during your lunch break
- Do some stair climbing if possible - this increases muscle tone and circulation
- Add a standing/stretching break to each hour of your work day - even a few minutes is better than nothing
I hope this has provided some food for thought. Job positions which require long hours of sitting are everywhere, but a little education about the risks and solutions can go a long way.
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