Sitting for a long duration of time is not healthy nor feasible. In contemporary times, the nature of work has warranted a majority of us to sit at our computer desk for a prolonged period of time. This has led to many health concerns such as knee pain, lethargy, obesity, and so on.
The straightforward answer is that it is better to stand rather than sit for prolonged periods of time. However, too much standing is also not advisable; a healthy balance has to be maintained.
Some risks that you can avert if you choose to stand rather than sit for a long time:
Obesity
The first factor is obesity and weight gain, especially in the tummy area. Once you keep sitting every day with little to no exercise, then your body will start to gain fat and hence lead to other health problems.
Soon, you will experience obesity, and it would become extremely challenging to get out of this phase.
Back Pain
Due to rigidity and poor posture, your back will experience pain over time. This pain will become worse unless you actively work on correcting your posture. Stretching and exercising can help in preventing back pain.
Heart Diseases
Due to sitting, there are increased chances of heart diseases. This can happen due to digestive disruptions, poor circulation, and overall health. Hence, keeping an active lifestyle is imperative to ward off any heart-related risks and diseases.
These symptoms tend to show up in the long run, and therefore you must seek to work on such habits immediately.
What Should You Do?
There are sitting desks and standing desks that you can opt for; however, the best option is to work with what you already have and change your habits. To strike a healthy balance for your physical and mental well-being, you can incorporate some healthy habits into your life.
- In regular intervals of one hour, walk for 5-10 minutes to improve your circulation.
- Stretch your body at least twice a day to relax your muscles.
- Try to engage in deep breathing every now and then for healthy cardiovascular activity.
- Maintain healthy postures while sitting and standing.
- Eat healthy meals at regular intervals.
- Drink an adequate amount of water.
Thus, if you have to sit and work at your desk, then try to stand and walk as much as possible by taking short breaks. Even if it is a 2-minute stretch, it will immensely improve your circulation and make you feel instantly better. Try to incorporate these healthy habits gradually into your daily routine and witness the tremendous benefits for yourself.
The bonus point is that you will also observe that your energy levels are increasing, and you will start to feel much better. Hence, try to strike a healthy balance between sitting and standing at your desk in your workplace. This is the key to a perfectly healthy body and mind!
