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With obesity on the rise around the world and more job roles becoming sedentary and desk-based, it is all too easy to fall into the inactivity trap. In fact, having an inactive lifestyle can put significant strain on your body. It reduces the blood flow to your legs and can significantly increase your risk of poor mental health, diabetes and weight gain.
Learning how to stay in shape whilst leading a relatively immobile lifestyle is the key to staying healthy and alleviating boredom. Keeping the body and mind fit and sharp is of paramount importance to everyone from software developers and digital marketing gurus, through to poker players who play professionally on the leading world circuits, both offline and online. Digest the following tips to improve your personal fitness from a sedentary position.
Consider lifts and moving walkways out-of-bounds
Is your office located at least a few storeys high in a building? Resist the temptation to take the lift and walk up to your office each day using the building’s staircase. It’s just one of many ways to get exercise out of everyday life. You’ll be very surprised at just how effective this can be at strengthening your heart and getting the blood pumping throughout your body, including your legs. You should also avoid moving walkways, as it is perfectly possible to walk at the same speed as a moving walkway. All of this can work towards a goal of clocking-up a minimum of 10,000 steps a day.
Invest in an under-desk elliptical
If you are serious about improving your personal fitness, you could always ask your employer if they would be prepared to purchase an elliptical that fits neatly and safely under your desk. These fluid pedallers operates in a natural forward and backward motion, allowing you to increase the movement in your legs and knees without compromising on office floor space.
Take some time to work from a standing desk
Another alternative to working from a conventional office desk is to request or buy yourself a standing desk. These allow you to work and type whilst standing and keeping your back straight, improving your posture, increasing blood flow and burning more calories than you would sitting down. Most decent standing desks will have various adjustable heights to suit your unique size.
Hydration is your best friend
It is scientifically proven that staying hydrated and drinking water helps to curb snacking, bringing an end to empty calories. A well-hydrated body is also good for the mind, improving levels of concentration to allow you to work harder and meet those important deadlines. Invest in a reusable water bottle that you can keep at your desk daily. Be sure to drink at least one bottle in the morning and one in the afternoon before you leave at the end of each day.
Ditch your conventional office chair to improve your core strength
Have you ever considered that the way you sit at your office desk is another cause of your body’s inactivity? A growing number of people are ditching conventional office chairs and replacing them with basic gym exercise balls. The inherent instability of an exercise ball demands that you increase activation of your trunk muscles to stay still and balanced, thereby improving core strength and overall posture.
With a winning combination of increased physical activity, a hydrated body and a diet that consists of far less junk than you used to consume, it’s possible to transform your working environment in just a few simple steps. Do you have any other words of wisdom for office workers looking to change their work lifestyle? Let us know!