Sedentary lifestyles are taking their toll, especially among office workers. They often sit for long hours, without taking regular breaks to stretch their legs – a habit that is harmful to both physical and mental health.
It's widely known that sedentary lifestyles kill. The World Health Organization states that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the main risk factors for mortality from non-communicable diseases. It's therefore essential to reduce the amount of time we spend sitting down. But how can you do this when you have an office job?
Sports equipment manufacturer Asics wanted to find out more about the best ways to tackle physical inactivity in the office. To do so, it conducted an experiment with 80 people working in a seated position, with the help of Dr. Brendon Stubbs from King's College London. It was found that 15 minutes of physical activity was enough to lessen the detrimental effects of two hours of continuous sitting at a desk.
Dr. Stubbs' research team found that participants who took one or more short 15-minute breaks in the office were less stressed after just one week. Their stress levels fell by 14.7% in that time. Another advantage was that volunteers who took the time to get active during their working day were more efficient than their more sedentary colleagues. Their productivity increased by 33.2% in one week, and their ability to concentrate by 28.6%.
Overall, the experiment showed that the mental state of office workers who took regular breaks improved by 22.5% within a few days – a significant percentage, which just goes to show the impact inactivity can have on morale. And that's all the more reason to strive to move more, throughout the working day. Whether it's getting up to go see a coworker, walking when you're on the phone, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator to the coffee machine, these actions may seem trivial, but they help to break the sedentary nature of office work.
Still, it's not always easy to make time for breaks during busy days. But difficult doesn't mean impossible. With a little organization, it's perfectly possible to take short breaks every couple of hours. Think of it as an investment in your own well-being. – AFP Relaxnews
