How often do you think you sit down? If you’re anything like the average American, then you probably sit for around 13 hours a day at your office job, at home or your workplace. Unless you have a job that involves physical activity and lots of movement, your bottom is probably sat comfortably on your chair and planted there for long periods of time. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best way to treat our bodies, and although scientists have said that standing is no healthier than sitting, there is no doubt that a lot of our health issues stem from having a sedentary lifestyle.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the option to quit their job for an active one, any lots of people wouldn’t want to. Let’s face it, sitting down is relaxing, it’s comfortable and the less we move, the happier most of us are. However, that doesn’t mean that we should forget about our health. There are hundreds of ways to make sitting down healthier. There are exercises, stretches, treatments and we can even get soft seating that makes our bottoms happier.
So whether you’re lazing around in your workplace or spend a lot of time sitting at home, here are a couple of ways to look after your health if you sit for long periods of time.
Buy a great chair
Having poor posture can lead to complications later on in life if you sit down for long periods of time. Sadly, we can’t really dictate how we sit because our bodies will naturally try to move into a position that is naturally comfortable. For many people, that means slouching forward or leaning back. Either way, it’s important that you get a chair that accommodates how you prefer to sit without promoting bad habits. It’s fine to lean back in your chair assuming that the backrest fits your body, and making sure that the height of your seat is positioned perfectly to align with your desk is the key to making a comfortable seating arrangement.
Regular stretches
If you sit for long periods of time, then it’s a good idea to stretch your legs once in awhile and move around. For starters, if you work at an office then you should try and make it a habit to get up and get yourself a drink such as a glass of water or a coffee. As the water is boiling, take a stroll around the office and have a chat with others who are also on break, or answer a couple of messages on your phone but do your best to avoid sitting down while you do it. The more time you give your legs to stretch, the easier it will be on your body.
Consider an adjustable desk
It’s hard to recommend a standing desk because very few people in the world are capable of standing for long periods of time. It’s best to have a height adjustable desk so that you can switch between sitting and standing whenever your feet get tired or you feel like stretching your legs. Getting used to a standing desk takes some time, which means that it’s worth the long-term investment to buy a desk that can be adjusted to your needs.
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