10 ways to stay active at your work desk

Blog from: Sophie Hull 

Instagram: Sophie

Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining good overall health and mental well-being. Engaging in physical activity helps to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Furthermore, it can help to improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost self-esteem. Exercise also promotes better quality sleep, which is essential for overall health and well-being. Therefore, incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine is crucial for maintaining a healthy body and mind. However, it is important to note that it is not the only factor contributing to these conditions. Maintaining an active lifestyle and a balanced diet can help reduce the risk of these health issues.

Sedentary behaviour, such as prolonged sitting or lying down, can have negative impacts on our health. Studies have shown that excessive sedentary time can lead to increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues regardless of overall daily activity! In other words a short burst of intense physical activity at the gym after work does not make up for 8 hours of sedentary time at work! Additionally, sitting for long periods of time can cause poor posture and back pain.

It's important to incorporate movement into our daily routines, such as taking breaks to stand and stretch, going for walks, or participating in regular exercise. By reducing sedentary behaviour, we can improve our overall health and well-being. Unfortunately in today society many of us work desk jobs, so to combat some of some of the health issue that come along with this here are 10 ways to stay active at your desk:

1. Take breaks regularly. o a lap around the office or do some light exercise every hour or so, set an alert on your phone or computer so you don't forget.

2. Use a standing desk or an adjustable desk converter so that you can alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day.

3. Consider using a walking pad (treadmill or a pedal exerciser) under your standing desk to keep your body moving while you work.

4. Try some stretches and desk exercises such as shoulder shrugs, leg lifts, or desk push-ups to keep your muscles active.

5. Use a stability ball instead of a chair to engage your core muscles and improve your balance.

6. If your office is above the ground floor take the stairs instead of the elevator, If it's too far up walk a few flights before taking the elevator the rest of the way

7. utilise your lunch break! Bring a packed lunch you can eat on the go and and take a walk outside during your lunch break.

8. Use a resistance band to do some light strength training exercises, such as bicep curls or lateral raises.

9. Practice good posture by sitting up straight and keeping your feet flat on the ground.

10. Hydrate! This is the perfect hack because you hit two birds with one stone! The more water you drink the more times you must get up and use the bathroom, take this moment to do a lap or two of the office

Remember, staying active at your desk can help improve your overall health and well-being, so try incorporating some of these tips into your daily routine!