If you think about your typical day, how much time do you spend sitting? Probably more than you would like to admit. Even our watches remind us to stand up! 

Sitting in and of itself isn’t necessarily bad; your body needs to rest. However, our bodies were designed to move. Scientists agree, that our bodies were meant to be active. Unfortunately, our bodies move less and less as our society has advanced.

You may not realize it, but excessive sitting (or lack of movement) can lead to several issues.

  • Unavoidable spine immobility: The continuous weight on your hips and spine causes back pain and osteoporosis early. Think about all of the time sitting, even from birth. From sitting in a car seat to sitting at a desk, your spine wasn’t intended to spend all of this time sitting.
  • Increases obesity: Lack of movement holds the calories inside the body. As a result, you gain excessive weight, leading to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and so much more. It also hampers your muscles and veins by gaining weight on particular body parts. Most people go from sitting at a desk to sitting on a couch to relax. All of this sitting can increase your chances of gaining weight and obesity.
  • Triggers anxiety and depression: Proper hormone production can be affected by limiting bodily movements. This can create feelings of unfitness and hormonal imbalance, which can cause anxiety and turn to depression later. 

You may not be able to avoid sitting, and that’s okay. However, there are several things you can do even at your desk job to increase your body’s movement.

You can avoid the health risks by taking a few steps suggested below: 

  • Take short breaks every thirty or forty-five minutes on long working days and stretch your legs. 
  • Go on foot for short distances like school, gym, or groceries. 
  • Try to run, walk, bike, or do moderate exercise for at least thirty minutes a day. 
  • If you have a dog, aim to go for longer walks.
  • Take an active part in physical movement and switch to a healthy diet. 
  • Keep track of your BMI and calorie burning to encourage yourself. 

Give yourself a goal each day. Then, increase your goal. Before long, you’ll be moving more and feeling great!