Five Ways to Avoid Desk Sitting All Day

Sitting at your office desk for more than six hours a day could potentially add some risks to your health. It could cause weight gain, loss of brainpower and even lead to poor posture.

It’s not the fact that one sits a lot, but rather the act of sitting consistently for a long period of time throughout the day.

Here are five great ways you can combat the negative effects of a sedentary job:

Consider a Stand Up Desk: We use them everyday at Free Range! To start, dedicate doing a specific work task at the stand up desk. Possibly doing approximately, one hour of your work day standing, that could be broken up in six 10 minute or three 20 minutes of standing.

Take Breaks from Sitting: Pacing during phone calls is just one easy way to force yourself to walk around the office and get moving. When you sit all day, you develop a weak mid-section since your core muscles aren’t being activated. Keep your abs looking their best and avoid sending emails to colleagues when you’re able to walk over and talk to them instead.

Drink More Water: The idea is to have a cup or bottle to get up and fill throughout the day. Not only will this encourage you to drink more water, but it will also get you up and able to move around, giving your brain the fresh oxygen it needs.

Get Up and Stretch: Stretching helps release the tension in your muscles from being in the same position, and also gets your blood flowing so you are able to refocus your energy. Doing a couple poses halfway through your day or at the end of the day for five minutes can impact your overall well-being.

Do a Quick Office Workout: Allow yourself a moment throughout your day that you can do a physical activity in your office. We love these fun exercise flash cards from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Keep them at your desk and draw one the next time you need some workout inspiration!