Being sedentary for up to eight hours can be bad for your posture, but if you have a job that ties you to an office desk all day, there are ways you can still be active while performing your duties. Sitting at a desk for extended periods can lead to heart disease, obesity, and back pain. To avoid forming a sluggish habit, try these tips to help you stay active on the job.

How You Can Avoid Sitting Too Long At Your Desk

1. Use Lulls in Your Schedule to Get Moving

Whether you’re waiting for a phone call or have a break between meetings, use that downtime to get active. Take a walk around the office, use an empty room to do some stretches, or visit the office gym if you have one. If you don’t have extra time to walk around, try standing up and stretching your arms and legs every 30 minutes to relax your muscles and reduce stress. 

2. Begin Using the Stairs

If you’re used to taking the elevator at your office, try taking the stairs a couple of times a week to work out your legs before sitting at your office desk. By doing it every day, it will become a habit that will help you reach the recommended 10,000 steps a day while building stamina and strengthening your leg muscles.  

3. Buy a Standing Office Desk

Standing desks have become popular in modern offices as they allow workers to stretch their muscles and burn calories on the job. They also promote good posture and spine health, as these desks encourage you to pay attention to your standing position and avoid slouching. 

4. Walk to Your Colleagues’ Desks

When you’re emailing a colleague in the same office to ask a question, you’re wasting an opportunity to get up and walk across the room. Instead of drafting an email, walk to your colleagues’ desks—you can even take a longer route to ensure you get a couple of extra steps into your day.

5. Stand Up During Meetings

Let your manager know you prefer to stand rather than sit during meetings to help increase circulation. Along with allowing you to stretch, standing can help you focus better, encourage you to participate in the conversation more, and reduce body tension. Some managers might even join you and encourage others to do the same. 

If you want a more comfortable office desk or chair for your workstation, including standing desks, Fulkerson Services, Inc., in Monroe County, NY, has a wide selection of new and used office furniture. For more than 33 years, they’ve supplied homes and businesses in the greater Rochester area with affordable office furniture. Their team can even help you plan an office layout for your company. Call (585) 223-2541 to request a quote or visit their website to see a list of their services.