by Bri Dandrea
I find myself sitting on the couch watching TV a little more since the time change. When I leave work it is dark, so when I get home I get that feeling that it is time to cozy up on the couch before bed and relax. The problem is, I typically get home at 6:30 and have about 3 hours before I actually go to bed. That’s a lot of time to sit on the couch.
It is easy to want to sit down and watch TV, especially after a long day, but it really is not healthy to sit for long periods of time. It is recommended to get up and move around about every half hour for 3 minutes or more. This is important for your overall health and can…
- Increase energy
- Help with a clearer mind
- Improve mood
- Increase metabolism
- Increase blood flow
- Improve posture
I am writing this today as a friendly reminder to keep moving! One good way to keep moving is to complete those home exercises that your therapist sent home with you. Wink, wink! Another idea I used to share with my home health patients was to spread out cleaning and house chores throughout the day. This helps give you something to do throughout the day and breaks up the amount of time you may be sitting.
It is also important to keep moving during the work day, especially for those who sit at an office desk for a majority of their day. Some ways to stay moving at work is to take the stairs when possible, to stand up while on the phone, and to complete stretches at your desk.
Let’s keep moving! It will help us all feel better, and get through the long cold months ahead.