The world is designed to keep us inactive. This wasn’t an issue in our lives twenty years ago, but now that everything is done on computers it has become a big problem. We need to find ways to start moving again.
So far we have discussed walking, standing, and exercising to get you up and active. By looking at what you do in a typical week and where you spend most of your time, you can see the big picture and begin to look for ways to incorporate more movement into your life in simple ways.
Don’t make this difficult. Anything that requires too much self-discipline to implement and turn into a habit usually doesn’t last. Go for the small changes that add up to make the difference.
Action – When I began writing more, I quickly realized that it would mean sitting for long periods of time. At first I was fine with it but then I started to experience some negative side effects, like neck and back tension, increased weight, and a feeling of lethargy. The less I moved, the less I wanted to move. Then I looked at my schedule and made some little changes.
What are you currently doing that you could do standing up? Where do you drive or take transit to when you could walk? Begin to identify common activities throughout your week that you can do a little differently.
Steps – Literally, start to take steps. Walking is the simplest form of activity to add to your current routine. If you are working on something, take frequent thinking breaks and walk around the office or your house. Limit the amount of time spent sitting by moving your computer to a shelf that brings it to eye level. There are always things you can do to get you up and on your feet.
Stand up and march in place if you are watching tv or playing games on the computer. Find activities in your area that might be fun to try. You don’t need to join a gym, but figure out where you can add some stretching or squats or even practice standing on one leg to improve your balance. All of these little things can add up to keep you healthy.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – Inactivity will make you unhealthy. Lethargy affects circulation, the ability of the lymph system to function properly, and can make you unhappy. Imagine a child who isn’t allowed to run and play and you will understand how important this is. We need to get active and keep moving no matter how old we become.
Example – I now write standing up. It took two minutes to find a spot that I could put the computer on so my arms rest comfortably at my sides as I’m writing. That eliminated two-thirds of the sitting I was doing. When watching videos or a show I get up and work on my balance, or I do an abdominal workout with standing crunches. It’s not difficult to make these little changes to daily activities.
The bottom line is to do things that work with your life and that get you standing up and moving around. Plan activities that are active instead of going to a movie. Meet a friend for coffee and walk while you are visiting. By becoming more aware of how much we sit every day we can find ways to eliminate unnecessary inactivity.