ARE YOU SITTING TOO COMFORTABLY? FOLLOW THESE 20 LIFESTYLE TIPS TO A HEALTHIER AND MORE ACTIVE YOU

Your body was designed to move – so why do we sit for so long? Follow these lifestyle tips to a more active day – and stop sitting so long

Research suggests that sitting for long periods of time may not be good for your health, even if you try to balance this out by hitting the NHS target of 75mins of vigorous exercise per week, or 150mis at a moderate intensity. So, why is this?

Movement is key to keeping blood circulating through a squeezing effect of your muscles on the veins when they contract. In a seated position your legs are hardly moving which could lead to blood pooling, increasing the risk of you suffering deep being thrombosis.

Your biggest muscles are in your legs, so they play a vital role in keeping your metabolism fired up. Clearly, in a seated position using only your hands will imply that any calories you’ve digested will start to be stored rather than expended, which in time you’ll notice in an expanding waistline.

Also, if you don’t stand, electrical activity within your muscles effectively ceases and there will be a drop in the body’s ability to draw fat out of the blood stream for use as fuel, as it isn’t needed. This leads to a higher concentration of blood fats, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.                                                                     

The truth is your body was designed to move so here are a few tips to help you to get off your backside and enjoy the positive effect it’ll have on your health.

At work:

-Instead of phoning or sending an email to a colleague, walk to his/her office and talk face to face

-Regularly head for the water fountain

-When you need a comfort break, walk to the furthest away toilet in the building

-Stand whenever you’re talking on the phone

-Earn your coffee break by walking up and down the stairs a few times immediately beforehand

-Have a stretch whenever you’re talking to colleagues

-If you’re photocopying, place your hands on the machine and perform a few incline press ups

-If you sit at a desk, try a fitness ball, instead of a chair, to strengthen your core.

-Can you hold mobile meetings, discussing work matters while you stroll

-Even if you can’t leave your desk, a few seated stretches will still bring benefits

-Swap your traditional desk for an adjustable height so you can sometimes stand to work

At home:

-Stand up during the commercial breaks on TV

-Do triceps dips off the end of the couch while waiting for your favourite programme to begin

-Stand on 1 leg and keep your balance while the theme tune plays at the start and end of a show

-Keep a kettlebell in the kitchen so you can swing while the dinner’s cooking

-Forget the automatic car wash and clean it the old-fashioned way, by hand

-Take the dog for more frequent walks

-Find new ways to play with the children, frisbee, hopscotch, hide and seek

-Make sure your weekends incorporate some gardening or DIY

The post Are you sitting too comfortably? Follow these 20 lifestyle tips to a healthier and more active you appeared first on Men's Fitness.

2026-01-10T11:45:56Z