With a lot of us working and studying from home, we are spending significantly more time living a sedentary life, sitting for long periods of time and not being as active as we otherwise could be.

I’ve heard about the negative health impacts of sitting for a while, yet I’m still guilty of spending too much time glued to my seat and writing away, checking emails and doing all that other fun admin stuff that comes with being my own boss.

Did you know that sitting for just three or more hours per day increases a person’s risk of chronic disease and cuts their life expectancy by two years?

What I didn’t know was that sitting for more than three hours per day has these effects even if you’re otherwise physically active.

That means that you can’t make up for living a sedentary life simply by exercising for 30 minutes a day.

The seemingly harmless act of sitting for long periods of time causes your muscles not being engaged and your body can’t optimally manage blood glucose normally, which leads to abnormally high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. These factors increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

So, what can we do about it?

Here are 7 ways to sit less and move more:

• Walk wherever possible for daily errands – post office, grocery store, chemist etc.
• Take regular 5-10 minute breaks each hour to get up from your desk – make a tea, get a snack, stretch etc.
• Take your phone calls on the go rather than sitting still
• Schedule a daily walk and get regular fresh air (e.g. during lunch breaks or after work)
• Invest in a standing desk
• Make social engagements active and meet friends for an on the go coffee/ juice and a walk, rather than sitting down for a meal
• Aim for 10k steps a day and track your movement on your phone – take it from Adam’s grandmother who is 80 and never misses a single day! Most phone calls with her can be expected to be taken on the go!

 xx Jess