We’ve all heard that sitting all day at our desks is killing us. The popular way to save ourselves from impending doom is to buy a standing desk, but if you aren’t ready to get out of your seat during work hours. Office Desks can make all the difference to your productivity at work and your overall posture. It is best to do your research into finding the right one for you and your requirements. Here are ways to sit better and be more active during the work day.
Sit better and stop crouching
Certain sitting positions are healthier than others. It’s important to get rid of the crouching position that is extremely common at desk jobs. It’s far healthier to lean backwards in a relaxed position at about 135 degrees.
Try to maintain good posture throughout the day. For the first few days it might be helpful to set a reminder every hour or so to check your posture, but eventually you’ll naturally notice yourself falling out of good posture.
Sit on an exercise ball
Exercise balls are popular chair replacements since they’re cheap (and fun!). The research is mixed as to whether exercise balls really improve your posture, but .
Use a foot stool
Like most furniture, generic chairs are built for generic people, usually 5 foot 8 males. Anyone shorter than that usually has their feet dangling or in an uncomfortable, unstable position. Try using a foot stool or making your own with blocks so that the bottom of your feet touch the “floor” while your sitting. You can try resting your feet on a chair or beam if your desk design allows that.
Work on the sofa
Just because your doing office work doesn’t mean that you have to sit at a desk and chair, especially if you’re using a computer. Try sitting at different sofas, chairs, and spots around the office to find out ones that might be more comfortable for you and encourage you to keep a better posture.
Take regular active breaks
If you prefer a sitting desk, try taking a work break every 30-60 minutes that gets you out of your chair. You can walk around the office perimeter, stand up for 5 minutes, or do desk push-ups. Studies show that modest exercise throughout the day, including walking and standing, can be more beneficial for your health than intense bouts of exercise broken up by long periods of inactivity.
Have walking meetings
Walking meetings are a productivity trick of famous achievers including Barack Obama, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. You can walk and talk in a park nearby the office, around the block, or a low-key hiking trail if you’re lucky to be close to nature. There’s more benefits to walking meetings, too: movement and changes of scenery can also boost your creativity.
Do a set of push-ups or pull-ups before going to the bathroom
Take advantage of your body’s natural break cue by doing something active each time you have to take bathroom break. Standing push-ups are probably the easiest exercise to do. Behavior researcher B.J. Fogg set up a pull-up bar so that he could fit some pull-ups in every time he goes to the bathroom.
Be more active during your commute
If you must be sedentary at work, try exercising on your way to and from the office. Start small by standing instead of sitting on the train or bus, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking in the farthest spot in the parking lot. If the distance and weather allows, try walking or biking to work.