20 Immediate Changes That Will Improve Your Health
Yes, sitting is as bad for you as they say. Set an alarm every 30 minutes to get up and walk.
People have long looked down on being a couch potato, but beyond the social stigma, it turns out sitting for extended periods of time — be it out of laziness or the nature of one’s work — is actually detrimental to one’s health, even if you're otherwise active. Overall, it can shorten your life, but there are more immediate dangers whose likelihood increases due to prolonged sitting, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. There are also concerns about weight gain and, more serious, a blood clot, so it’s easy to see the importance of stretching your legs now and then.
However, those who are stuck at a desk all day don’t have the luxury of taking a break every hour or two to go for a walk. Thankfully, a full-blown workout routine isn’t necessary to combat the negative effects of too much sitting. The best defense is to stand up and stretch your legs every 30 minutes. If you think you’ll forget, set an alarm on your phone or computer to remind you. Try taking the stairs as often as possible, too. If you have a fitness tracker, a lot of them come with movement alarms for this very reason. Any movement can only help your chances!
