A sedentary lifestyle does the body no favors — and this is particularly true for office workers who spend large periods seated at their work desks. According to a 2017 study, spending most of the day at a desk is a risk factor for nothing less than early death. More than that, the higher your total time sitting, the higher your risks. If you’re working the typical 40 hours a week or more, what can you do?
The good news for today’s workforce is that there are lots of ways to stay healthy, even while working a desk job. You just need the right everyday habits and office exercise tips. If you want to remain productive and in good shape even while you’re analyzing research or typing documents, here are some key exercise tips for office workers.
- Get up often. Just because you’re on the clock from 9 to 5 doesn’t mean you can’t take regular breaks throughout the day. Even getting up for five minutes every half-hour can make a difference in your mood, mental clarity and health consequences. According to the same study referenced above, people who sat for less than 30 minutes at a time had the least death risks.
- Take advantage of your lunch break. Make your lunch break more than a chance to eat a sandwich and incorporate a daily walk into your routine. Whether you do laps around your office building or head to a nearby park, you’re incorporating regular activity into the middle of your workday.
- Drink more water. The human body is about 70 percent water. Is it any wonder it needs regular hydration to work properly? Drinking plenty of water can improve energy, boost mental clarity, prevent headaches, detoxify, aid the skin, support digestion and boost immunity. Plus, if you drink water before and after eating, you will often feel fuller and eat less.
- Eat healthy snacks. For many professionals, it’s all too easy to let food become an afterthought. Snacks often become whatever’s easiest to grab. If you combine long hours at a desk with junk food, however, it’s a recipe for health problems. Set yourself up to make better choices by stocking healthy snacks in your desk. From dried fruit and nuts to fresh veggies and hummus, having nutritious snacks available makes them much easier to eat.
- Exercise at your desk. Last but not least, you can redeem the time you spend seated at your work desk by incorporating exercise into your desk routines. With an under-the-desk exercise bicycle such as the DeskCycle or DeskCycle2, you have a way to work your body even while answering calls or writing reports. Quiet to operate, one of these desk bikes becomes a powerful way to take back your office time and give your body the movement it needs.
Are you interested in changing the way you work each day with desk exercise? Order a DeskCycle or contact us today to learn more!