Did you catch the recent Washington Post article about the dangers of sitting too much?
“The negative effects of extended sitting can be so strong, researchers found, that even people who exercise regularly face higher risk if they sit for much of the day.”
—Sitting All Day Increases Dementia Risk ā Even If You Exercise, The Washington Post
Apparently, sitting for 10+ hours a day is bad for your health, even if you exercise.
Uuurp.
I’m a runner, and I thought that was good enough . . . but I definitely sit for 10+ hours a day. Between my work-from-home desk job, my poetry and novel writing, and my reading habit, . . . not to mention all the time I spend scrolling mindlessly, watching TV, or lounging around talking on the phone, . . . it adds up to a lot of quality time for the ol’ buttocks.
I have a new plan. I intend to take a walk or at least stand up while talking on the phone. I also wonder whether I could read on an exercise bike. I wonder whether I could do walking meditations instead of sitting ones. Even my therapist offered to walk during sessions; she read the same article and had similar concerns as me.
All that probably still won’t get me lower than 10 hours. But it’s a start.
Maybe I should go back into teaching, or get a waitressing job.
Alas—I love writing and editing and would never give it up.
Do you have ideas for getting on your feet more?
Do you have stairs in your home? Going up and down a flight of stairs periodically can give you a work out. Taking a break and walking is another. Maybe if you had a stand up desk, some people use those. Looking at how your day is structured and maybe tweaking it so that you balance the time you sit might help.
Thanks, Linda! š
Congratulations on your success with your concussion symptoms! I would suggest putting a treadmill (one that can incline), in front of the television. Amazon has a wide variety, and the cost is less than one would think.
Thanks! Hmm, not sure about the treadmill/TV idea… I might distracted by the show and fall off… Maybe that’s just me, haha…
Clearly the problem lies in reading such an article. Avoid reading articles that tell you what you are doing is unhealthy. Eat potato chips. Eat potato chips while sitting. Eat potato chips while typing your blog. The path to great health is to eat potato chips, kick off, and come back fresh, rosy, healthy and pooping whenever the hell you feel like it.
Glad I could help & thank you for the opportunity.
Howard
Not a doctor. Not affiliated with potato chips, nor with the potato chip industry in any way. Utz.
Haha you are funny…