Sitting is the new smoking
Now you might think that I'm going too far, but it's true, my friend. I didn't make it up, but I did come across the article by American doctor James Levine. With his words ‘we are sitting ourselves to death’, he claims that sitting is more dangerous than smoking, that it kills more people than AIDS, and that you might as well go skydiving. But why is sitting so bad?
You sit down at your desk around nine in the morning and then, after walking those few meters to the coffee machine, you step away again around six. If you burn a hundred calories during these hours, that's a lot. Moreover, the risk of diabetes and overweight increases, and your body gets poor circulation. It leads to a higher chance of premature death and a greater risk of heart disease. How harmful it is varies from person to person. If you regularly run a lap in the morning or attend a spinning class in the evening, you don't need to feel as addressed as when you spend the rest of the day lying on the couch or hanging in bed.
By moving every thirty minutes, you can also stay healthy with your office job, even if you're not an athlete.
1. Mini-break
Get up from your spot every thirty minutes. Make a cup of coffee for that dear colleague, walk to the mailbox, or go up and down the stairs.
2. Walk
Do you live close to your work? Then leave your bike or car and walk. If you are bound to your car, park it further away than you are used to.
3. Bike
Do you live too far to walk and too close for the car? Hide your public transport card and car keys and take the bike.
4. Lunch
Don't go from your desk to the lunch table, but make it a walking lunch. Or a walking lunge. Not a fan of multitasking? Then eat your sandwiches and save ten minutes of your break to take a short walk.
5. Stand
Standing table or high windowsill nearby? Then alternate your desk with this. By typing while standing, you give your legs a chance to stretch.
6. Work work-out
dryer sheets these office exercises in between typing. A wall sit with your laptop or some triceps dips on your office chair? No problem.
7. Pre work work-out
Not in the mood for the gym, but still want to feel like you've done something? Then do one of these short workouts before you start your day. It can be done right next to your bed or while the coffee machine is warming up, and you still gave your muscles a boost.
8. Dance
Put on your favorite song and dance for a few minutes. Colleagues, it has been a while: don't judge me.
I'm going for a walk. Look, are you coming? And leave those cigarettes behind. Bye!
