Sitting Down VS Staying Healthy and Why It’s Possible to Marry the Two

by Ben Goodman ***

The work place is full of contradictions. And no, contradictions don’t just mean employees’ tendency to disagree with each other when it comes to their ideas; it also includes their habits. Everyone aims for a healthier lifestyle but fail to take the necessary steps to actually get what they want.

A lot of employees swear in front of their mirrors in the morning to do more exercise and eat healthy. But after a long day at work, their idea of self-indulgence tend to be spending the night in front of their computers or TV screens with a box of pizza on the side and a beer in hand.

While there’s nothing wrong with pizza and beer, the fault lies in the employees’ inability to commit to a goal and be consistent towards reaching it. Okay, maybe you don’t like pizza that much or you’ve steered clear from beer, but there’s still something in your office that can cause you to ultimately fail from reaching your goal to stay healthy.

It’s small and considerably harmless-looking, but it can definitely destroy your health: your office chair. You may not realize it, but the long hours you spend in your chair can slowly but surely kill you. Many diseases and health conditions have been associated to long sitting hours and poor posture caused by it such as obesity, and increased chances of getting heart diseases, not to mention the back and neck pain that comes along with it.

So How Can You Be Healthy by Sitting?

You need to stop habits that go against a healthier life. Although not all offices are blessed with the best office chairs for your back, there are certain things you can do to prevent sitting from destroying your back. You either sit better or keep moving.

Here are specific recommendations on how you can maintain good health while at work:

Ditch The Chair

No, this doesn’t mean that you should immediately throw away your current office chair. Assess the type of chair you currently have at the office. Is it ergonomic? Is it a good chair for posture? If it isn’t, then should you suggest about having chairs for posture support at the office?

After all, providing better chairs for employees does not only elevate their morale but can also help them to be more productive since they get to comfortably sit without the back or neck pain.

Walk Around

Especially if you’re a desk job employee, it is recommended to stand up and take a brief walk every hour or two. It improves proper blood circulation and allows your muscles to move. It’s a small way for you to become healthy despite the sedentary nature of office life.

Eat Better to Metabolize Better

Consider sipping tea or coffee, or even getting lean meat for lunch. These foods boost your metabolism and reverse its sudden slowing down caused by too much sitting. Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water. Spare a few minutes during your shift to head over the water dispenser. Stay hydrated!

Contradiction doesn’t only exist among employees who couldn’t agree with each other. It also exists within employees and in their efforts in staying healthy and fit while at the office. A lot of times, employees are not given the chance to control their work condition.

You don’t get to choose the type of office chair given to you at work. However, you can increase your efforts to balance everything. If your chair hampers your journey towards a healthier you, then see how you can counter its negative effects. After all, being healthier is just a matter constant effort and mindfulness of how things around you can affect your health and your body.