HEALTHY SHROPSHIRE DIRECTORY
Click here for details of services or activities near you.
Irritable? Struggling with concentration, tiredness and low mood during certain times of the day?
These feelings seem to be a common occurrence for those who spend much of their day sitting.
On average people in the UK will sit for nearly 9 of their waking hours each day.
· A typical day may include sitting:
· To eat breakfast
· To drive to work
· At your desk at work
· To drive home
· To eat dinner
· During the evening to do things such as watch television, use a computer and socialise.
Sitting for prolonged periods of time can worsen our mood, making us prone to low mood and poor concentration and focus. It has also been directly linked to an increase in future health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance, which can lead to type II diabetes.
But did you know by making a small change to your day to day behaviour, sitting less can really help lift your mood and more importantly improve your long term health.
Here's some tips to get your started. A lot of it is common sense, but it is surprising how many of us don't think about doing some of these simple changes in our day to day lives.
· Stand up frequently and move around
· If sat watching TV, stand up during the adverts
· Take phone calls standing up
· Take the stairs instead of a lift or elevator
· If at work, walk to a colleague's desk instead of emailing them
By just making some of these simple changes in your day to day behaviour can really benefit your health and wellbeing.
Benefits can include:
· Feeling more positive, alert and more awake
· Burning between 50-60 calories an hour
· Relieving back and shoulder pain
· Promoting healthier joints and spine
· Adding years to your life
It is important to note, however, that sitting for long periods of times is not the same as being physically inactive. Someone who is considered to be sat for long periods of times is different to someone who is considered physically inactive.
Hence, someone who is physically active for the recommended 150 minutes a week could still be sitting for long periods of time each day. For example someone who works all day sat down at a desk.
If you've read this far, why not give it a go and stand up for yourself and your health.
If you would like further information, please consult the 'helpful links' section on this page.
HEALTHY SHROPSHIRE DIRECTORY
Click here for details of services or activities near you.