Is prolonged sitting a post-Covid conversation?
Corporates need to adopt the 30 for 2 law of sitting in the post Covid19 time
Will life be the same after Covid19? Will we all go back to the same lives and lifestyles? Will corporates look to change their wellness programmes or indeed think much more about their employee’s health? I strongly believe Covid-19 marks a time for change, not another tick box episode, but a commitment to change and we can start by sitting less.
Whilst lockdown continues, many of us will inevitably be spending more time in front of the computer and watching TV. For others, they are used to this because they spend most of their day sitting at work. And here lies one of the major issues affecting our health, prolonged sitting.
It’s a well-known fact that sitting for long periods is bad for our long-term health and our brain. Some scientists have even gone so far as to say “Sitting is the new smoking.” Whilst this can be argued, it is clear that sitting is a very real problem and we need to make changes to the way we work and the places we work in.
Our brain and body is designed for and expects daily movement. Movement increases blood flow which brings health-giving oxygen, nutrients and allows waste products to be taken away. Prolonged sitting reduces the blood flow around the brain, which also reduces your ability to concentrate and be creative.
"Reductions in brain blood flow from prolonged sitting have associated risks for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia"
A 2018 study of healthy desk workers, however, has shown that if we stand up and go for a walk for 2 minutes for every 30 minutes of sitting down, we can offset these reductions in blood flow to the brain. Hence, we like to encourage you all (especially office workers) to engage with the 30 for 2 law whilst working at a desk or watching TV.
Ensure you get your daily fix of exercise as currently prescribed by the government. In addition to this make sure you don’t sit for too long. Even going for a run doesn’t mean that you can sit for the rest of the day! Get up, every 30 minutes, just 2 minutes saves your brain.
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Owner at Kneadamassage
4 年I too speak to my clients about this, particularly at this time where so many are working from home at their kitchen tables, or worse with laptops sitting on a sofa! We are designed to move...
Supporting women through midlife with transformational CBT, hypnotherapy and mindfulness. Founder, Be.Sleep Solution and Be. Modern Meditation | 1:1 | Impactful Speaker | Corporate Workshops |
4 年This is really interesting, I hadn’t considered this. I think cultivating an awareness of your body is really important to be able to notice that it’s happening. So combining that 2 minutes with some micro moments of mindfulness or meditation would be a powerful combination
Founder at Functional Medicine Associates
4 年Prolonged sitting and sedentary behaviours also add to creating a body that is more inflamed. This increased inflammation is one of the main mechanisms that put us at increased risk of poorer outcomes with COVID19
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4 年I really like the 30 for 2 message of standing up for 2 minutes every 30 minutes to encourage blood circulation. It’s smart. Getting up to drink a big glass of water makes the 2 minutes even more effective. And doing simple inversion of legs up the wall at bed time can also help reverse the flow of blood back into the brain. It’s a deeply relaxing way to end the hectic (and sedentary) day. Looking forward to following you here Pete Williams
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4 年Great post, Pete! Something I’m finding myself talking about with clients all the time. Simple, sustainable adaptations (like the 30 for 2 law) are exactly what’s needed. I’d also encourage people to get creative with their work stations... I quite like placing a chair on my table and plonking my laptop on the chair = standing desk!