How often do you sit during your day? It’s likely that you spend most of your day in a chair, both at work and at a home since the average American watches five hours of television per day.
Apple CEO Tim Cook told a recent Goldman Sachs technology and Internet audience when discussing the Apple Watch that sitting is indeed the new cancer as numerous studies have reported sitting for long bouts at a time can contribute to an array of serious health issues, including heart disease, obesity and physical disabilities past the age of 60.
Cook noted that the electronic device reminds the owner to stand up more often. “A lot of doctors believe sitting is the new cancer,” Cook started in his speech.
“Ten minutes before the hour, it will remind you to move,” said Cook. “We have a lot of people using the Apple Watch at Apple, and 10 minutes before the hour, suddenly they all get up and move. It took a little to get used to, but it’s great.”
For the past few decades, most white-collar office workers have been stationed at their desks for several hours at a time. With computers and mobile devices more prevalent in office spaces, the sedentary lifestyle of an employee has greatly increased, and this poses serious health risks to the overall workforce.
Although a lot of companies have joined in the trend to attempt to transform the conventional office into a beacon of exercise and healthy snacks, it still hasn’t sufficed to make a dent.
Cook’s remarks aren’t just a marketing ploy, says many business and health experts, who purport that higher health risks are linked to small businesses. According to a poll conducted by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), a strong majority of American businesses do not provide their staff with unconventional seating arrangements, such as sit-stand desks, treadmill desks or balance balls.
Additional research of an estimated 800,000 people discovered that sitting or lying down while awake most of the time leads to 112 percent increase in the risk of diabetes; a 147 percent increase in cardiovascular ailments; and a 90 percent increase in death due to those events.
CNET‘s Amanda Kooser explained her personal situation when it came to sitting for extended periods of time:
“Nearly a year ago, I stacked a couple of cardboard boxes onto my desk, set my keyboard and monitor stand on top and converted my sit-down work arrangement into a standing one. I also got a tall stool so I could alternate between sitting, standing and halfway-perching while I type away all day long.
“Sitting, for me, had turned into a literal pain in the butt. I’m now a happier writer who moves around considerably more than I did before. It took some getting used to, but now I can’t imagine going back to a regular chair.”
If you think you’re sitting too much at work then here are five tips to get more active between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. while also getting your assignments in on time:
- Park further away from the office, get off one stop early on public transit and stand as much as you can during lunch.
- Take a standing break.
- Keep your office supplies at a far distance from your desk.
- As you check your email and voice messages do so while standing.
- Be aware of your posture – never slouch while sitting at your desk.