5 Tips for Kicking Your Sedentary Lifestyle

There’s no doubt that adequate rest is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. But what happens when there’s too much rest and not enough movement? This is what’s commonly known as a sedentary lifestyle.

Many Americans fall into an overly-sedentary lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Many people work office jobs that demand they sit at a desk for most of their day. In other cases, illnesses like depression or anxiety can make it extremely challenging to get up and move. With an overabundance of screens ruling over our lives, incorporating exercise into your everyday life is as crucial as ever.

If you’re tired of leading a sedentary lifestyle, here are some great ways to develop healthier habits.

What is a Sedentary Lifestyle?

If you’re leading a sedentary lifestyle, you’re showing the opposite of an active lifestyle. People spend more time sleeping, watching TV, sitting, or lying down, and there isn’t a healthy balance between movement and rest. Many older adults fall into a sedentary lifestyle as they age. The impact of sitting too much, and not moving enough, poses a negative effect on a person’s health.

Sedentary Lifestyle Effects

A sedentary lifestyle can negatively affect your health in ways you may not realize. This is because there’s no immediate impact made on the body. Sitting or laying down for prolonged periods may feel good - until it doesn’t. A sedentary life will slowly impact you over time, and in many cases, you’ll feel the effects of it later in life.

The effects of a sedentary lifestyle can lead to several health problems, such as:

• Venous thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)
• Inflammation in joints and muscles
• Cardiovascular disease
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Loss of muscle in legs

Although it can feel challenging to kick old habits, it’s more than possible. Not only this, it’s necessary if you want to lead a healthy life.

Tips to Transform Your Sedentary Lifestyle

The important thing when kicking a sedentary lifestyle is to start small. You don’t have to make any major changes to become more active. There are simple, easy, and fun ways to transform a sedentary life into an active one.  

1. Talk Short Walks Throughout the Day

Walking is one of the best things you can do to transform tired habits. Walking improves circulation, decreases inflammation, strengthens muscles, and brings joy to your day. Take short walks during lunch hour or in between meetings. A walk can last 5 minutes and impact your health.

2. Set an Alarm When it’s Time to Get Up

If you work in an office, set the alarm to notify you when it’s time to get up. This works well even when you’re lying down to watch TV. Start an alarm for every hour. When the alarm goes off, get up, move around, and even take a short walk. You’ll notice significant improvements over time.

3. Put on Some Music and Dance

Although it may feel silly at first, dancing improves your health significantly! This will boost serotonin, get your blood pumping, and remove stagnancy in the body. Put on your favorite song, and take a dance break!

4. Get Creative With Workouts

You don’t have to go to the gym to work out. You can create a makeshift gym using materials found at home! Use soup cans to perform bicep curls or pushups against a kitchen counter.

5. Stand During Phonecalls

Make it a point to stand if you’re on the phone a lot, whether for work or personal calls. Move around the room, walk around, and incorporate some gentle movement into your day.

Visit Us at BASS Medical

Here at BASS Medical Group, we know how tricky it can be to kick a sedentary lifestyle, and this is why our team is here to help you through that journey. Schedule an appointment today for more tips, tricks, and general health advice.