New year, new start. This is the perfect time to make changes in your day-to-day routine, especially if your job requires you to sit more than six hours a day!  We don’t want to startle you, but did you know that sitting this long day after day can lead to the following problems: 

• If you sit more than 3 hours a day, your risk for kidney disease increases.
• Sitting for long periods of time also increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and premature death, even for people who meet the recommended daily physical activity levels, as recommended by health professionals.
• The longer you sit, the higher your risk of certain types of cancer.
• Every hour you sit in front of the TV, your life expectancy is slashed by 22 minutes. Watching television for 6 hours a day takes 5 years off of your life!
• Sitting for too long can also cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Now for the good news! You have the power to change these risk factors. Here’s how:

• Set an alarm to get up every 30 minutes. Walk around your floor, stretch, march in place, do a few wall push-ups, take the stairs, just get moving!
• Communicate face-to-face.  Whenever possible, take a stroll to your coworker’s office and have a chat with them in person, rather than communicating by email.
• Use a smaller water bottle. We probably don’t have to remind you of the importance of staying hydrated, especially during our dry winter months. Besides combatting that mid-day fatigue, using a smaller water bottle means you have to get up more often to refill it!
• Switch to a standing desk.  If your company won’t fit the bill for a fancy treadmill desk, do whatever it takes to build your own. Stack boxes, paper or anything sturdy and create you own standing desk. Hopefully your coworkers will follow suit!
• Take the stairs.  You’ve heard it a million times. Forget the elevator! Increase circulation, get your heart rate up and give your mind a little stimulation when you need it most.

Do you have any tips to keep yourself active while at the office? We would love to hear from you!