What is Sitting Disease?

Sitting Disease is just an idiom doctors use to symbolize the ill effects of leading a sedentary life. Humans are designed to move a good portion of the day. Studies show that extended periods of inactivity drastically increases your risk of contracting serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and more.

what can you do?

While your daily routine provides numerous opportunities to remain stationary, it is important to get up and move; a body in motion stays in motion. One of the easiest ways to incorporate more movement into your daily routine is to work standing up for at least 10 minutes every hour. In addition to standing while working, there are a number of things you can do to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, including:

• Stretch – take time to stretch at your desk or even do a few light exercises.
• Walk – walk during your 15-minute breaks, during your lunch, start a walking club with, or even schedule walking meetings.
• Avoid email when possible – It’s obviously not realistic to handle all business face-to-face, but take time everyday to drop by a co-worker’s desk to personally deliver a message or ask a question.
• Revise your commute – if you take a car, opt for public transit a few days each week. If the weather is nice, get off a stop or two early so you can walk the rest of the way to work.
• Turn off the TV – seriously, how much TV do you need anyway? Instead of flopping on the couch to watch another reality show, take a brisk walk outside or put an exercise video on. If you must watch TV, try riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill during your favorite programs.

Leading a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous to your health and a surefire way to increase your risk of facing serious medical complications as you age. In addition to eating healthy and exercising regularly, standing at work can make a huge difference in your daily activity level. Using a dynamic workstation, you can seamlessly switch between a seated and standing posture during your workday. Visit our online catalog to find the dynamic workstation that is right for you so you can begin incorporating the practice of standing while working into your daily routine.

The post Sitting Disease: Are You at Risk? appeared first on Xdesk Blog.

Good posture is the beginning to a healthier lifestyle.

Xdesk is an advocate of good posture. With sit to stand desks like these, you’re not only working on your posture when you’re standing up—you’re strengthening the muscles in your back so your posture improves when you sit down. Of course maintaining good posture isn’t an easy job, even with a sit to stand desk. You need to be aware of how you’re standing, mindful of any tension in your shoulders or back, and most of all you need to practice. Remember the old saying, “practice makes perfect?” Well it is true for good posture, too. Practice good posture when you’re standing and sitting at your adjustable height desk and before you know it, it will become habit.

But good posture should go beyond just practicing behind your sit to stand desk. That’s why in the next few posts, we’re going to give you the rundown on good posture—why you want it, how to get it, and tips for maintaining it, no matter where you are.

Today, we’ll start with the basics. Here are five reasons why good posture is so important: 

1) Standing and sitting correctly prevents back strain and overuse, and helps prevent back, neck, and muscle pain.

2) Good posture helps the muscles work more efficiently, which will help prevent fatigue

3) Good posture allows better breathing, which provides oxygen to your body and your brain. This is so important during the day, especially at work, when you need your brain to be awake and productive!

4) Standing properly makes you look slimmer, stronger, and healthier. And who doesn’t want that?

5) Good posture makes you look confident. Even if you’re not feeling confident at the moment, if you stand tall with your head held high, you’ll look like you own the room. And if you practice good posture, soon enough you’ll feel just as confident as you look.

Sit to stand desks are just one great way to practice good posture during the day. Check out our next post with some other ideas!

Do you use a sit to stand desk at work? How has it affected your posture?

The post Posture 101: Why Good Posture Will Change your Life appeared first on Xdesk Blog.