Sitting for extended periods can contribute to health problems later in life, including heart disease and diabetes. However, research suggests that engaging in a low-intensity activity every hour, such as a two-minute walk, can help reverse the negative impacts of sitting for a long period of time.
Here are a couple ways you can fit those two-minute walks into your work day:
- The next time you need to speak to a coworker, considering walking to talk to him or her instead of using electronic messages.
- Instead of taking an elevator, walking up or down the stairs is an excellent way to get moving.
The benefits of walking, or engaging in another low-intensity physical activity, are also additive. Every extra minute spent walking not only contributes to the health benefits, but it is also a minute that you didn’t spend sitting. Even small amounts of physical activity can help improve your health.