Did you see the headlines a few years ago stating that "sitting is the new smoking?"
Researchers looked at the health risks of sitting for hours at a time, and concluded that if you sit all day, your risk of dying was the same as that of a smoker. While those headlines might have a grain of truth, according to researchers who published a new study in the American Journal of Public Health have shown that while sitting isn't great for you, it's definitely not as bad as smoking! Reference
Sitting more than eight hours a day does increase your risk of premature death and developing some chronic diseases by as much as 10 to 20 percent, but it's nowhere near the same as smoking, which boosts the risk of early death by 180%.
Here's the even better news: if you must sit a lot, there are some things you can do to offset the risk of developing diseases related to being sedentary. Be as active as possible when you're NOT sitting.
At work, go for walks or move around during your breaks. When you're not at work, get up and move!
Researchers found that the risks of excess sitting, could be mostly offset by getting about an hour of moderate to vigorous exercise every day. While this might not be possible for you every day, achieving this 3 - 4 times per week will definitely help! Gardening, playing sports, or engaging in active hobbies will also help. Tips for reducing your risk while you are at your desk
Hint: these tips will also increase your productivity!
Your body needs and craves movement and the more you move, the more you'll want to move. 4 Stretches for avoiding the aches and pains from sitting too long.
Sitting too long can also take a toll on your posture. There's even a name for it: kyphosis.
Kyphosis is when you develop posture that leads to a forward head, rounded shoulders, back pain, muscle stiffness, and pain in your neck. It can even affect muscles around your hips and glutes. Try these exercises a few times a day because preventing kyphosis is much easier than fixing it!
Keyboard Stretch
If you spend a lot of time at a computer, this one's important. If this stretch causes any pain, back and work tome small improvements.
Standing Stretch
Seated Stretch
Upper Body Stretch
I hope these tips help and as I said above, if your body feels good, then your mind will...and you'll be more productive!
Consistency is the key! Over time, you'll notice that it becomes easier to sit tall throughout the day, and nagging pains may go away. Keeping a strong back, core, and shoulders will help you avoid posture issues as you get older.
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Women's Wellness Circle: Create Your Extraordinary Life AuthorHi, I’m Crystal! If you'd like to access my Farmer's Market Friday posts from 2018, click here!
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