How to Combat a Sedentary Lifestyle : A sedentary lifestyle is defined as a daily routine that involves excessive amounts of sitting or lying down without physical activity. Essentially, a sedentary lifestyle involves little exercise or burning of calories throughout the day.
Without access to a treadmill or other exercise equipment at work or home, it can be difficult to find the time to get moving. Of course, having a few lazy days now and then is fine; however, when this type of lifestyle goes on for years, it can have a negative impact on your overall health and wellness.
Here, we’re taking a closer look at the dangers of this lifestyle and offering some methods for helping you to combat a sedentary lifestyle, which will help to improve your overall health and wellness. We also look at one of the most exciting ways that people working from home (or the office) have found to stay productive and healthy.
What are the Dangers of a Sedentary Lifestyle?
At first glance, a sedentary lifestyle may not seem all that dangerous. In fact, it can even seem inevitable. For most office jobs, which many of us work, sitting for eight hours a day can seem unavoidable. With advancements in technology (especially since the birth of the internet) most jobs have shifted to working on a desktop computer or laptop. As a result, most of us find ourselves in a seated position for practically the entire work day. And how do we unwind at home? Often, we sit down on the couch to catch our favorite TV shows.
But over time, this type of lifestyle can have a serious impact on your health—both physically and mentally. A sedentary lifestyle dramatically reduces the number of calories you burn throughout the day. As these days goes on, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll gain weight. This can eventually develop into obesity that can negatively impact almost every aspect of your health. From a physical perspective, a sedentary lifestyle also increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Research even suggests that being sedentary or inactive can lead to a decreased lifespan.
From a mental health perspective, a sedentary lifestyle is also damaging. Lack of physical activity can lead to depression, irritability, and can increase one’s risk of developing a mental health disorder. Studies show that even a quick workout with light to moderate exercise can dramatically boost your mood.
How to Combat a Sedentary Lifestyle
Living a hectic lifestyle, especially one where you’re seated at work, it can seem impossible to do anything about this type of inactivity. There’s only so many hours in the day, right? But if you make it a focus to combat this sedentary lifestyle, you’ll be amazed at how much you can do while remaining productive and fulfilling your responsibilities.
Here are a few tips for combatting the sedentary lifestyle:
Get more exercise
Most of us dread going to the gym, but even a short workout can boost your mood and enhance your health and wellbeing. Try to fit short workouts into your day, whether that’s a morning jog, a walk at lunch, or even just some push-ups before going to bed. Start small and keep moving.
Reduce your time being sedentary
You don’t need to hit the weights or run a marathon to limit the sedentary lifestyle. Take small steps to decrease your time sitting or lying down—it can make a big difference. Try walking to work, standing while on calls, taking the stairs instead of an elevator, or standing on public transport. Try to invest your time in more active hobbies at home, such as gardening, playing a recreational sport, or light exercise.
Invest in office wellness products
To combat a sedentary lifestyle, many employers are investing in office wellness products that can keep you active and productive. We’ll discuss desk treadmills below, but other popular options include bike desks or even just a simple standing desk to keep you upright at work.
Solving the Work From Home Problem with Desk Treadmills
In recent years, one of the most widespread changes to our work lives has been the shift from working in an office to working at home. Working from home, or often just coined as WFH, has radically shifted the professional experience and individual’s work-life balance. It has also made getting enough exercise even more challenging.
Luckily, there are many new office wellness products to help people stay active while working—no matter where their work happens to take place. Desk treadmills are one of the more popular options. This device combines an operational desk with a treadmill so you can walk at your own pace while staying focused on work. Many people find that using a desk treadmill even increases their focus, productivity, and mood.
Conclusion – How to Combat a Sedentary Lifestyle
Taking the occasional day off to lounge around your home and lay on the couch is perfectly fine. However, if an inactive lifestyle turns into your day-to-day routine, this can be detrimental to your health. A sedentary lifestyle, built up over the years, can increase your risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even shorten your lifespan. It can also adversely affect your mental health and mood.
Luckily, there are many ways to combat this sedentary lifestyle. Find ways to get exercise throughout the day. Even a 20 minute walk each day can have a positive impact on your health. Find ways to reduce your sedentary state, such as standing while on work calls or taking short walks during your work day. For those looking for an even more effective way to stay productive and health, consider investing in a desk treadmill or inquiring about one with your employer. These simple devices allow you to walk and remain active while comfortably staying focused and productive. Getting your work done while burning calories? What’s better than that?
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