Maybe I can chalk it up to the self-awareness that comes along with getting older. Or maybe to simply the physical changes that come with getting older. Whatever. The fact is, I’m finding that my desk job is increasingly incompatible with my physical and mental wellbeing.
I feel the effects at the gym: My hip flexors are impossibly tight. I have trouble extending my legs and bending forward from the waist. The fingers and wrist on my mouse-wielding right hand are stiff and cranky. The muscles along my shoulders and upper chest seem permanently welded in a keyboard scrunch.
Sitting as I do for about 8 hours, 5 days a week, takes its toll. I thought it was just me, until I spotted this article in The New York Times Magazine: Is Sitting a Lethal Activity? From the story:
Being sedentary for nine hours a day at the office is bad for your health whether you go home and watch television afterward or hit the gym. It is bad whether you are morbidly obese or marathon-runner thin. “Excessive sitting,” Dr. Levine says, “is a lethal activity.”
I am taking steps—literally—to remedy this situation.
I saw that article too Bryn. And I hear ya, I am having all the same struggles. That mouse hand problem goes directly to my shoulder!
So true! I also recently wrote a blog post about this topic. When I started my business — and spent too many hours at the computer — I had a bout of wrist tendinitis. After many months of icing, chiropractic, and stretching, I was back to normal and realized how important it is to take care of your body. I now take frequent breaks and do at least a short yoga or stretching program every day.
During that time, I also discovered a DVD series called “RX: Yoga” which was a huge help: http://www.rxyoga.com/video.html. I still use them regularly when I’m putting in long hours.
Also, now that I have a dog she makes sure I don’t spend long hours in front of the computer!
Pingback: Sitting all day sucks. | writes4food | cooking, eating, drinking in the Midwest