Change Your Workplace Habits: Move From Sitting All Day To Standing More

Do you sit more than 6 hours a day at work/home?  You should probably take a look at some sobering facts if you do:

• Your risk of heart disease increases to up to 64%
• A sedentary lifestyle can decrease the quality of your life by 7 years
• You could be at risk for certain types of cancer

Pretty scary. But you can change your daily habits at work and home and improve your health. That does not mean that you need to make drastic changes (some people may need to based on recommendations from their physician), but improving upon and changing something every day goes a long way – even it is only small changes. Small changes add up over time.

I have started making changes to my health and well-being in my work spaces. I spend over 50 hours a week working. I work full time plus I also have my blog and do a lot of other things on the side. Not to mention when I use some of my down time to watch TV. That was adding up to 9+ hours of sitting a day. Yikes! That was way too much. And since I am no longer 18 my body was starting to feel all the negative side effects from sitting all the time. I have knee issues (which will eventually require a knee replacement) and poor posture (which leads to back and shoulder issues). When I sit for long periods my knees stiffen up and ache, my lower back gets sore and I tend to hunch forward. I also find it hard to get moving after sitting for long periods.

Over a month ago I started using the VARIDESK ProPlus 36 from Fitterfirst. I cannot believe the difference that a standing desk has made in my life. It has changed the way that I will work forever!  I find that I am more productive now, and I have more energy in the afternoons when before I used to crash and crave coffee or sugary snacks around 3pm. Plus my knees, back and shoulders are not getting stiff or sore as they used to. The biggest benefit that I have found from incorporating a standing desk into my work life, is that it has stopped me from being a ‘couch potato’ all the time.

I should mention that I don’t stand all day long now either. I use the VARIDESK companion app to switch from sitting to standing throughout the day. I have found the perfect balance that works for me between sitting and standing and more importantly I am no longer sitting for 9+ hours a day. That is huge for me!

I also had the opportunity to try a prototype balance board for Fitterfirst. While it is not available yet I can tell you that it helps to keep your core more active while standing – which for me is an added bonus. It gives me a bit of a workout plus it stops me from having poor posture while standing. It is easy for me to start leaning and putting all my weight on one side of my body while standing. Another bad habit of mine.

I am sure a lot of people out there had a new year’s resolution to exercise more, lose weight or a combination of the two. If you are like me it probably lasted 30 days or so. But it is not too late to change that. There are still two months left in 2015 so why not work on creating an Active Office and start the coming new year off better and healthier? Incorporating a standing desk and becoming more active throughout the day can go a long way to helping with this.

Creating an Active Office is also a great way to improve your workplace culture too! It can help create and build a sense of comradery and can help with team building if you get everyone in the office involved and onboard. Taking active breaks together is fun and it is an energy booster. Plus a healthier workforce means reduced absenteeism as well.

Just in case you were not sold check out the following via MedicalBillingandCoding.org:

How Sitting Down Is Killing You [Infographic]

More info on the VARIDESK ProPlus 36 from Fitterfirst:

The VARIDESK line of desks are made to go on top of your current desks (which is more economical than replacing desks and work stations.)  And because it fits on your current desk that means that you don’t have to change or rearrange your office set up as well. It can change from a sitting to standing position within seconds. It comes ready to use right out of the box and if you change jobs or offices it can easily go with you. It is well built and feels like it will last for years.

I received a VARIDESK ProPlus desk from Fitterfirst for review purposes. Good or bad, my reviews and opinions are honest with my readers best interest in mind. I am not paid for positive reviews.

Photo Credit: Getty Images