A lot of our occupational athletes are out lifting boxes, pushing carts or doing other strenuous activities, but we also have some that have to sit at a desk all day long at work. If you are sitting at a desk all day long, this can be harmful to your health.
In fact, a recent study found that even if you are getting plenty of physical activity before or after work, you could be increasing your risk of death and disease because of all that sitting. With that in mind, we wanted to recommend five tricks to get you up and moving throughout the work day to help increase movement and activity:
Use a Timer
The best way to stand up and move around every hour is by simply setting a timer! This will encourage you to stand up and take a few steps every 20 to 30 minutes. You can also download software that will lock your computer screen when it’s time for a standing break!
The Water Trick
This trick will help you stay hydrated and moving throughout the day. All you have to do is keep a 24oz glass of water at your desk and sip on it. Take a quick break every time you need to fill it up and move those legs! You should be drinking at least 64oz of water a day so aim to get up at least three times throughout the day to fill up your glass. Also, more water equals more trips to the bathroom so that also counts as a break!
Fitness Trackers
Sometimes all you need is some healthy competition to get you standing up and moving! See which fitness trackers your friends are using and then buy that one so you can challenge each other to a steps battle every day, week, or month with the fitness tracker’s app! Stay tuned, we’ll be reviewing a few of our favorites on the blog soon. Don’t want to spend money on a fitness tracker? A lot of newer smart phones have pedometer programs built-in so just carry that phone with you when you take a break.
Standing Game
Get too busy at work to follow a timer or the water trick? Make a game out of your day and start standing up! Write down five things that happen throughout the day and stand up when one of those things occur. For example, every time you receive an email from your boss, stand up! If you get a phone call, stand up! Catch yourself checking your personal phone, stand up! This is a great way to keep moving throughout the day.
Walking Meetings
This one might be harder to execute for a lot of you, but if you can, try holding walking meetings. Instead of sitting around in a conference room, load documents on a tablet and take the meeting on the road! Not only does this trick get you up and moving, but will also encourage movement with your co-workers and bosses!
So there you have it, five ways to get moving and standing throughout the day. Now it’s your turn to take the #StandUpChallenge and move around more this week at work! Do you have some suggestions that we didn’t include? Post them below in the comments or on our Facebook page!
