Get up and move!

Sitting postures place a considerable amount of stress on our joints, especially those of the neck and lower back. It is also a position in which your muscles are not used much. We would all benefit from moving and standing more often in our everyday life. 

Think about how much time you spend sitting in a day: we sit down for lunch, we sit in the car or bus to get to work, we sit for seven (or more) hours a day at work, to then return to sitting in the car, sitting while having supper and watching TV before going to bed. 

Of course this is just an example. Even if you spend an hour exercising or going for a walk, the majority of your day is still spent in a sitting position, which is stressful for your joints.  

What we are proposing is to integrate more standing when you work. If possible, try to have a workstation where you can stand up. There are some desks where you can easily change the height and quickly go from sitting to standing several times throughout your day. Otherwise, you could temporarily use a higher work surface (such as a kitchen island or a counter) to be able to work comfortably while standing. For more tips on how to adjust your workstation, check out our article Optimize Your Telework. 

Remember, the key is to move! Change your working position frequently throughout the day. Get in the habit of standing up at least every hour and moving around, even for a bit. Go for a walk on your lunch break or before you start your day. You can also try to make your phone calls while standing or walking!