Do you sit too much? The answer is YES!
The human body is designed for regular, varied movements. However, as technological improvements lead to less manual jobs, we’ve created sedentary lifestyles built around a computer, TV, or other devices. Unfortunately, the body doesn’t respond well to the lack of movement.
Research has shown that sitting is bad for the waistline, blood pressure, cholesterol, attention, energy, and even life expectancy! Chronic sitting not only affects your quality of life, it also shortens it, too!
A recent study assessed the effects of sitting on arterial function, essentially how blood flows throughout the body. As expected, participants who sat for three hours experienced significant declines in blood flow throughout their body. These declines, however, were mitigated when the person took a five minute walk every hour. Just FIVE minutes! A short walk every hour can significantly improve blood flow and potentially improve cardiovascular health and overall well-being.
We know exercise is incredibly powerful. A recent study found that kids with ADHD noticed significant improvement in ADHD symptoms when they performed a morning exercise routine before going to school. While this can be especially important for at-risk children with attention deficit problems, all participants showed improvement with before-school aerobic activity.
So if you find yourself sitting throughout the day, whether it’s at work, school, or at home, set your alarm and take a short exercise break every hour. It may not seem like much, but you’ll find yourself to be more productive, attentive, and healthier in the long run!
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