Last updated on April 21, 2021

The human body makes us who we are. And the movement of our body makes us human. The skeletal system supports our bodies that makes it possible to move. It is a compelling power of life and strengthens our sensory awareness.

On the other hand, being inactive – which includes sitting too long and too often, allows our bodies to cry out for help.

Trending: Working From Home

However, sometimes life comes, and we cannot help but find ourselves in situations like today’s pandemic. In the USA, at least 60% of the population works voluntarily or involuntarily at home. It makes it possible for people to coordinate their work schedules with the needs of the person or family.

Before the shutdown, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that only 7% of Americans (> 15 years) worked or were able to work from home, regardless of sex. Presently, Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom reports that an unbelievable 42 percent of the United States labor force work from home full-time. The population estimate consisted primarily of parents living with children, workers with higher degrees in management, business, and financial transactions, and those, particularly in the private sector.

The Toxic Effects of Not Moving

Given the new reality, please note that people who work from home, particularly those of us who spend long periods sitting at the computer, are more likely to experience:

• Loss of muscular strength (including sarcopenia)
• Postural fatigue (including strains, wounds, neck, shoulder, arm, back, thigh, and leg aches)
• Weakened bones
• Compromised blood circulation
• Greater weight gain
• Inflammatory conditions
• Hormonal imbalance
• An impaired immune system

Sitting for 30 minutes or longer considerably leads to conditions like:

• Osteoporosis – Abnormal loss of bone tissue that gives way to spongy-like brittle bones
• Obesity – to have a weight that is more than what has typically been deemed a healthy weight for a specific height
• Metabolic syndrome – a group of diseases (high blood pressure, hyperglycemia, excess fat around the waist, and abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides) that can occur at the same time, increasing the risk of heart disease, Type II diabetes, and stroke
• Increased risk of some cancers, including colon, endometrium, breast, and lung cancer
• Early death

However, this does not mean that we cannot or should not work from home or a computer. Each occupation is subject to its risks. It just means that we need to change workspaces and practices to make the movement likely. This way, allowing our body to do what it should do – MOVE.

Make a Time for MOVEMENT TIME

To reduce the negative repercussions of sedentary work, here are some helpful tips to keep moving while working from home

• Make time to exercise daily
• Eat less while sitting
• Sitting on a yoga ball or stabilizing ball
• Use of a stand-up adjustable desk during computer work or reading
• Stand and move at every opportunity; such as when responding to a phone call
• Use of a stand-up adjustable desk during computer work or reading
• Ensure that your sitting position is the right one when you are sitting

Take breaks often to move and stretch (about every 30 to 60 minutes – setting a stopwatch helps). Go for an all-day computer-user yoga pose. Yoga is INCREDIBLE! It will help you to find peace of mind. And there’s yoga for everything. Hold every pose for a minimum of 60 seconds. And experience a little magic.

DO NOT PASS ON YOUR HEALTH.

GET THE WORD OUT.

#KEEP MOVING!!!

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