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Sitting is comfortable. It feels less strenuous on our bodies than standing or walking, and is an essential way to relax, especially after a busy day. We sit on our work breaks, on public transport, at home in front of the TV, on park benches and in restaurants, but have you ever stopped to think that you might be sitting too much? How long should we actually remain seated before we get active again, and are there any consequences that emerge when we sit for too long?
Many different kinds of people may find that they spend too much time sitting than they should. Those who work in office jobs, for example, or those who are avid gamers. Luckily, there are a few ways you can reduce the amount of time you are sitting for in both of these areas. If you work a job where you’re usually at a desk, why not make use of a standing desk instead? These are simply desks that lift up allowing you to work on your feet. Similarly, if you are someone who spends a lot of time sitting down playing long-form video games, why not turn your attention to games that can be played in a shorter amount of time?
Take, for example, the online casino world. Countless online casino platforms offer a no wagering bonus, enabling gamblers to play their favourite classic casino games without needing to think about wagering requirements. Since many of these games, such as slots, crash and instant win titles, can be played in a short amount of time, turning to these instead of video game options to get your gaming thrill can greatly reduce the amount of time you spend seated.
Reading this, you might be thinking, well, what's so wrong with sitting? That's because we've been encouraged to view sitting as an entirely positive thing because of how it is a necessary way for us to relax. However, there are various health issues that emerge if we sit for too long, too often. When we are sitting, our bodies are inactive, and frequent inactivity can lead to an increased chance of type 2 diabetes, cancer, and obesity.
There have been some studies into the consequences of sitting for prolonged periods of time, with the most prominent having taken place in the 1950s. This study discovered that the bus drivers of double-decker buses were twice as likely to have a heart attack as the bus conductors they worked with. Despite working the same number of hours in the same environment, it was found that bus drivers were spending around 90% of their shift seated, whereas the conductors climbed a total of around 600 stairs during their working day.
Some sources suggest that, where possible, periods of sitting should be broken up around every half an hour with light activity. They also suggest that we should try to find ways to stay active, such as walking to places that are at a reasonable distance instead of taking the car.