Well this article doesn’t mince words – http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/health/sitting-will-kill-you/
Nor does this one – https://hbr.org/2013/01/sitting-is-the-smoking-of-our-generation/
There are hundreds, if not thousands of these articles coming out.
While we don’t know the exact amount of sitting a day that could be considered “safe” it’s fairly easy to guess that most of us likely are exceeding that amount.
I started to think about the hours spent on my tush, and the reality is…. I’m sitting more than any other position, including laying down to sleep!
8 hours at work
1 hour, roughly, in the car
2 hours of screen time at home – don’t judge: online shopping, writing, researching, etc.
1 hour for meals or coffee
=
12 hours
OUCH!
I don’t think that I am outside the “norm” for those of us that work in an office environment.
I have tried to get up as much as possible. Drinking a lot of water helps ;). I also like to get up to talk to coworkers – 9x out of 10, jokes are funnier in person than through email or instant messenger.
Recently, I was inspired by a fitness minded co-worker and purchased a small elliptical. It was the best decision! I feel SO MUCH BETTER. You can find the exact one here.
Not to toot my own horn, but I am averaging over 30 miles a day while at my desk. It sounds like a ton, but I am doing this off an on for EIGHT hours, so it adds up-over 150 miles a week!! I really had no idea how much I would enjoy this guy, or the amount of miles I could log. It’s AWESOME, and I feel so much more energized. I’m thinking about buying another to put under my home desk as well.
Stamina In-Motion Elliptical Trainer
Even those that are not in the office environment should pay attention to the amount of time they are sitting. It truly adds up quickly – between the car, computer, phone time, and even a ton of “activities”, can and likely, are being done in a chair. So, get up and move when you can!