How do you know if you’re sitting too much?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by OfficePlus

You’ve been sitting for a while, but you can’t really remember how long it’s been. If that’s the case then, chances are, you’ve been sitting too long!

Too Much Sitting

But things aren’t always so cut-and-dry. You know that excessive sitting is referred to as the sitting disease, a condition that increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and a slew of other illnesses. You just aren’t sure if you’ve been sitting too long. So, time to develop a little self-awareness and create new habits before things get out of hand.

Signs you’re sitting too much:

You just feel… blah. Time to get the blood pumping! Your body has been stagnant too long and is asking you for a little movement.

You’re feeling down. Excessive sitting increases loneliness and depression. And it’s easy to understand why: sitting alone is isolating. So get up, take a walk around the office, and say hello to a colleague.

You feel on-edge. You’re feeling irritable and anxious, but you’re not sure why. Sitting could be to blame; it’s been linked to increased anxiety.

You’re gaining weight, or you feel bloated. When you sit for longer than 15 minutes, your digestion slows down. Don’t wait for that to happen; have a quick walk or stretch throughout the day.

You’ve got a sore back or headache. Pain is your body’s way of sending out an SOS. If you’ve developed a headache or backache, it’s likely you’ve been sitting too long.

If you’ve noticed these symptoms, you’re not alone. The average person is sedentary for 21 hours every day. To calculate your time spent sitting at work, use this helpful Sitting Calculator from juststand.org.

Treadmill Desks? See What the Buzz is All About

Posted on June 15, 2016 by OfficePlus

We’ve been discussing the impacts of prolonged sitting at work for some time now. While sit & stand desks and desk accessories have become imperative to helping people balance out their daily sit & stand routine, treadmill desks are not as popular but they are a viable option for those seeking to take their activity at the office to the next level.

Treadmill Desk Buzz

Here are some of the benefits of using a treadmill, according to a LifeSpan article:

Improves Mood & Reduces Stress

Exercise is a great way to release stress, whether work or non work related. Physical activity triggers our body to release endorphins which help us get into a positive mood. It can also help to reach your fitness goals since we spend majority of our day at work!

Fuels Creativity

A study conducted by Standford University; volunteers completed tasks while sedentary and while walking on a treadmill at a slow pace. On average, the volunteers using a treadmill were able to come up with 60% more different uses for their tasks compared to sitting. Creativity & exercise all in one!

Productivity Boost

Another study was done by University of Minnesota that indicated an increase in productivity and health for treadmill desk users. While there may be perceptions of the ability to walk a treadmill and focus could be difficult, this study suggests otherwise.

Promotes a Healthy Body

The “no brainer” here – walking helps us burn calories and stay in shape. So instead of waiting for the lunch break or the evening to take a stroll, you could get your steps in while working!

Lowers Blood Pressure

Walking (even at a light pace) helps increase blood flow which helps lower blood pressure. This is a huge health benefit for anyone suffering (or looking to prevent) high blood pressure.

Below you will find a response to a LifeSpan survey showing what type of improvement people saw by using the treadmill desk on an average of less than two hours a day:

Source: LifeSpan

There are even actual reviews of first experiences, like the one below:

The research and early adopters seem to be fairly satisfied with using a treadmill desk. Is this something that your workplace is considering for some of its employees? Would you consider walking at your desk?

Happy National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day!

Posted on May 4, 2016 by OfficePlus

Our friends south of the border are celebrating the National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day today. As strong advocates of workplace wellness we would like to celebrate with them!

National Get Fit Don't Sit Day

The American Diabetes Association is spearheading the movement to raise awareness of sedentary habits and how it can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. For regular readers of our blog you will know that balancing your workday with plenty of standing time will result in many other benefits as well.

To help people move, the American Diabetes Association has put together a great set of tools that are available for download:

To really get the point across, they also put together an infographic illustrating the risks of too much sitting and how to balance activity with sedentary habits: