How to Stay Fit When You You Sit 40+ Hours a Week

The following post is from Brittany Guerin, fitness coordinator for University Recreation, on tips for staying fit if you find yourself doing a lot of sitting at work or when studying.

We all know that we SHOULD be more active every day. But things called jobs, especially those that require a desk and a chair, can get in the way of movement throughout the day. According to Len Kravitz, Program Coordinator of Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, more than 90 percent of our day may be spent in sitting behaviors, even for the physically active person.

Since it is suggested that a higher frequency of sitting is directly related to obesity, heart disease and diabetes, we need to figure out how to increase the number of steps taken each day. Here are some ideas that you might be able to integrate during the workweek:

  • Set an alarm for every 30 minutes. Each time it goes off, take a lap down the hallway.
  • Rather than e-mailing your co-workers, take a walk to their office when you need to ask a question.
  • Need to re-hydrate with water? Take a 5-minute walk while you grab some H20.
  • When you head to the bathroom, find the farthest possible one in the building so that you’ll increase how many steps you’re taking. Same thing goes with parking (plus, there’s much less demand for parking spots that aren’t close to your office building).
  • Challenge yourself to take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Schedule walking meetings, especially those that might require some extra creativity (use your phone for voice memos when necessary)

Pick one of the above options to commit to each work day in order to create a more active lifestyle.

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