Two Reasons You Should Get Up From Your Chair

There have been a few studies in the news lately about why it’s important not only to have an ergonomic setup at work, but to actually get up, walk around, and stand during the day.

This TED talk by Nilofer Merchant goes over why it’s not only important to stand and walk around for health, but how doing so can also improve your productivity at work.

Reason #1 – Standing Up for Health

Mladen Golubic, who is the medical director at the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute, lays out a few of the health consequences of sitting all day at work in this Wall Street Journal article.

Lower back strain and neck pain are, of course, the obvious results, although workplace technology is constantly finding new and improved ways to prevent back pain through specially designed chairs, desks, and computer layouts.

But no matter how ergonomic your setup is, the reality is this: sitting all day just isn’t good for you. In fact, sitting all day is the root cause of the sedentary lifestyle that can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

And over time, all of that sitting and slouching can even change the shape of your skeleton and maybe even how your organs sit within your body.

Reason #2 – Standing Up for Productivity

Getting up and moving at work is good for your health, and that should be enough to spur us into action. But being on your feet can actually help you be more productive, too.

An upright position is definitely linked with motivation and focus, and being on your feet can help you to engage in a conversation far more actively than if you were reclined in a comfortable conference room chair.

And as you’ll see in the TED talk below, walking while you talk can actually help to boost creativity and help you think outside the box.

So give Nilofer Merchant your ear, and learn more about why you should step away from your computer and go for a walk!

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