3 Essential Health Tips for People Working at Desk Jobs

Whether you work at an office or you are an at-home worker who spends most of their time sitting at a desk, you should be aware of the risks of being seated for long periods of time. However, you should also know that there are tons of things that you can do to keep your blood flowing and prevent some of the complications that come with desk work. Let’s take a closer look at some of the health issues people working desk jobs have to face, and what you can do to mitigate the risks.

The Risk of Sitting for Too Long

Is sitting bad for you and how is sitting harmful to your health?  The answer is yes, it is bad for you, and probably more harmful to your health than you may imagine. 

In this article titled “Why Is Sitting so Bad for Us?”, Yale Medicine exposes some of the main risks of staying seated for too long. For one, it states that people who sit at a desk for long periods of time can start developing vascular issues as blood will start to pool in your lower legs and feet, which could eventually lead to blood clots. They also found that people who stayed seated for more than 30 minutes per day were at a higher risk of early death.

The article advises that people work in a standing position as much as they can and stay active. They also advise against the overconsumption of alcohol, smoking, and meat. Here are some other things that you can do to minimize health risks if you’re working a desk job.

Stay Hydrated

We can’t stress the importance of hydration when it comes to health in general enough. Just mild dehydration can lead to fatigue and mood swings. Chronic dehydration can cause the blood to thicken, which will put more stress on your cardiovascular system. If you want to know how much water you should drink, try to aim for half of your weight in ounces of fresh water.

Improve Your Posture

In addition to cardiovascular issues, those who stay seated for long periods of time may also deal with back and head issues. Thankfully, a lot of these can be relieved by improving your posture. Try to always keep your head aligned with your screen, make your work arrangements as ergonomic as possible, and sit up straight.

Change Your Transportation Habits

If you can, try to do some activity before, during, and after work. This could easily be done by changing your transportation habits. For instance, you could park your vehicle a few blocks from your workplace. Take the stairs instead of taking the elevator, and add some extra weight in your bag so you’ll be able to burn some extra calories. During lunch, try to go somewhere that’s a good distance from your job. Just doing something as simple as using the toilets on a different floor could make a difference, so use as many tricks as you can. 

Sitting for long periods of time can be detrimental to your health, so it’s essential that you take the steps necessary to reduce risks. Follow the few simple tips in this article, and do everything you can to add as much activity as possible to your daily routine.

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