by Toppin' Up
Whether you’re still a student or recently graduated and started your role in the career you aspired for, it is a no brainer that with today’s busy lifestyle we are often in a sitting or idling position.
Granted, most of the time, the tasks you have to do would require you to sit down and focus… that is whether we’re talking about writing an essay, discussing your thesis, or even doing a 9 to 5 office job.
Locally, almost everyone is aware that the country ranks very high in lists of obesity… To put you in the picture, Malta ranks 21st country worldwide with the most obese adult males, just below Australia and Canada…
In 2019, the European Commission issued a report stating that Malta has the highest rate of obese men and women.
However, this should not always be the case. There will most likely be times where you could stand up for a minute or two, stretch a bit your muscles or even go for a quick walk around the building/block.
So what are the health effects of prolonged sit down sessions?
Well for starters, it doesn’t really help the chances to avoid diabetes, dementia, weight issues and other diseases. The heart is one of the organs which doesn’t enjoy the fact that you’re sitting throughout most of the day… Moreover, one would most likely suffer from bad posture and ultimately pain in places such as the lower back side or even throughout the blood system where circulation often is one of the first things one would notice.
But, we’re not here to give you a lecture on the medical side effects of all of this… and this is mostly because we are not in a position to provide medical advice or diagnosis. However, in return, we would like to provide some tips which could help you be more active during the day, with simple to more complex activities that are likely going to help your body function better.
1
Stand up!
While it might sound like a lame activity to do, it actually is quite beneficial and goes beyond the physical health benefits. In fact, it also helps your mental wellbeing by changing the air and letting your eyes and mind focus on the best things that matter in life!
That said, standing up (and possibly having a very short 2 to 5 minute walk closeby), helps with your blood circulation and reduces the risk of other body pain which may result from long hours of sitting.
2
Quick evening walk or jog
When you finish your day at University or at the workplace, you would be tempted to just go home and relax… Wrong. Try to go for a 30-minute walk or jog somewhere close to home.
If you live in urban areas, attempt at finding a spot closest to home where you can enjoy a bit of nature while distancing yourself from the stress of the city.
You’d be amazed how this would also reduce any stress and it might also help you sleep better at night.
3
Washing the car
With the Saharian sand enjoying its lightweight airborne superpowers across the Mediterranean and leaving its trail across our country and our cars, you might want to use that as an excuse to wash your car regularly.
Not only does this help you keep your vehicle spotless, but it would also help you from a health perspective as it is considered to be a good workout.
Now, we’re not talking about going to a car wash centre and watching it get clean automatically. You would need to go round your car, dry it up and also give it a final good polish.
4
Subscribe to a gym membership
An obvious choice, however this will require time, determination and more often than not, money. If you’re on a tight budget, do try and shop around, taking into consideration the layout of the gym, what it offers, opening times, and so on.
Sometimes, you’d find that gyms offer student-exclusive deals, where normal rates are given a further reduction. Do keep in mind that you would need to add this to your weekly schedule, over and above what you already have planned, and so that coupled with your will power to be healthier, would often see you keeping your weekly appointments.
As a bonus, you might want to consider starting off with a personal trainer who would guide you as you get knowledgeable about the gym lifestyle, equipment and also planning your diets.
5
365 days of swimming
An island in the Mediterranean and we often forget about our surroundings – the Sea! Yes, granted, not always suitable throughout the year, however we do enjoy a prolonged summer with some months where temperatures soar in the mid to high 30s.
This would be a good excuse for you to take this summer as an opportunity to get into the habit of going regularly for a swim. Similarly to tip number 4, during colder months, you might want to find a heated indoor pool where you could enrol yourself in a membership and keep this lifestyle going!
Swimming is thought to be a great way to improve blood circulation, especially in the leg area.
Now that you know, go and try one (or all of them) out!
Remember, you have to love your body for it to love you back!
What do you think of the above tips?
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The contents of this article/post should not be considered as professional medical advice.
Consult your health professional if suffering from any related symptoms.
