Remember “Sitting is the New Smoking”?

Alright, you ready? I’ve got some GREAT news for you today … and some even BETTER news on top of that! If you work behind a desk the majority of the day, you’ll definitely want to check this out…

First, remember a few years back when the headlines screamed about how sitting is the new smoking? In a nutshell, researchers evaluated the health risks of sitting for long periods of time. I’m sure you can guess the conclusion … it was that if you sit a lot, your risk of dying was the same as that of a smoker, EVEN IF YOU EXERCISE! 

YIKES. 

While those headlines certainly contained a grain of truth, they weren’t 100% accurate. Here’s why. New studies have shown that while it’s not at all ideal to sit for long periods of time, it’s definitely not as harmful as smoking. 

Sitting more than 8 hours per day DOES increase your risk of premature death and developing various chronic diseases by 10% to 20% … however, it’s nowhere near the 180% chance of death that smoking boosts! 

And here’s even BETTER news! If you must sit for long periods, there are things you can do to offset the risk of developing diseases related to being sedentary. 

It all boils down to how active you are when you’re NOT sitting down. 

Take walks during your break instead of sitting, and when you’re NOT at work? Get up and MOVE! Researchers found the risks of “excess sitting” could mostly be offset by getting about an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. Not completely offset, but chances are you can’t just quit your job today and go find something more movement oriented, so let’s work with what you’ve got instead of focusing on what we can’t control. 

It might not be possible every single day, but attending a class or training session at least 3-4 days per week will help you rack up that weekly total. So will gardening, playing recreational sports and engaging in other active hobbies. Side-note: I can vouch for the gardening thing – I just planted flowers yesterday and I was SWEATING all over, legs were burning … I was a hot mess in the best ways! 

Now back to the desk thing real quick – here are something things you can do to make the best of it:

Tip #1: GET UP AND WALK AROUND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE!
Set a timer so you are getting up to stretch at least once every hour. It’s all too easy to get consumed by a project and forget to move. 

Tip #2: WATER! STAY HYDRATED BY DRINKING LOTS OF IT.
And, bonus: it may make you have to get up for more bathroom trips which equals more steps! 

Tip #3: CHECK THAT YOUR CHAIR SUPPORTS YOU PROPERLY AND IS SET TO THE CORRECT HEIGHT. 

Tip #4: BE MINDFUL OF YOUR POSTURE WHILE SITTING! 

Tip #5: WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TAKE WALKING MEETINGS IF THAT’S AN OPTION.
Be the driving force of your company for movement! If you’re discussing a project with a co-worker, ask to take the meeting outside for a quick walk. This also encourages creativity and produces some of those lovely endorphins! 

Above all else remember: your body NEEDS and craves movement. So while sitting isn’t exactly the new smoking, you definitely want to do what you can, with what you have, to combat a sedentary lifestyle. Doing so will keep you healthy, fit and feeling amazing for years to come. 

We’re here to help you with strategies to stay active, strong and FLEXIBLE! If you’re unsure about your journey, need some guidance or just want to talk, we’re here to help with an assessment that includes how to incorporate movement into every part of your life. Just text “movement” to 916-932-8096 for more details, and don’t forget to grab your value-packed and FREE “Restore Your Core” guide we created, below.