“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. Do the thing you think you cannot do.”
– Eleanor Rooseveldt

Our bodies were designed to move, to lift, run, climb, and bend – it’s how we evolved. For thousands of years it’s just what we did, it’s how we worked, it’s how we paid the mortgage and put food on the table. Fast forward to the mid-20th century and we see the growing momentum of technology weaken the momentum of the human body.

Our office is the danger zone. Parallel with the connectedness of the digital age is the birth of the “sedentary work environment” and “Sitting Disease”. Whether we workout daily or not, most of our jobs are cementing our bodies in place and the cost is more than we can afford.

Be more active at work!

“But how? My job requires me to sit at a desk, be on the road, or be in front of my computer all day”

Get creative and make it fun, these have worked for us:

  • Challenge your office to do 10 pushups and 10 air squats for every phone call that comes in. The key is to find a way to stay active at work throughout the day, even if it’s low-intensity. (Scale as needed, especially during the busy season)

  • Take your phone calls outside. Transfer your scheduled calls to your cell phone and go for a quick walk while you hash out business. The fresh air and flowing blood boosts your creativity and focus as well.

  • Convince your boss to get you a standing desk and start alternating between sitting and standing every 30 minutes. Gradually increasing the amount of time you are standing at work will benefit your posture, metabolism, mood, muscle tone, and so much more.

  • Schedule walks with a coworker. Maybe it’s a meeting or just a walk after lunch, just find a way to get the blood pumping and the heart thumping to break up a long day at your desk.

  • Write this down on a white board, a sticky note on your monitor, and anywhere that will be constantly visible in your office – “Stand up, sit less, and move more”. The constant reminder will rewire your default setting to stand and stay in motion.

These are some, but not all of the things you can look forward to once you decide to stand up, sit less, and move more.

  • Improved posture
  • Tone muscles
  • Stronger bones
  • Improved mood
  • Increased metabolism
  • Increased focus & productivity
  • More energy
  • Improved circulation
  • Enhanced brain function