As paradoxical as it may seem, a person can define themselves as both active and inactive. There’s nothing strange about it, quite to the contrary. Practicing your favorite sports and exercising regularly does not exclude moments of sitting at your desk for a few hours, or even in comfy mode in front of the TV…
According to the professors at the University of Ottawa, Canadian adults spend approximately two thirds of their waking hours engaged in inactive activities. The main reason? Modernity…
In developed countries, advances in technology and computerization have caused workers to spend long hours in a seated position. This behavior has increased due to the confinement caused by the pandemic and unfortunately, can also lead to harmful consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity is the cause of certain chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer and heart disease.
To the contrary, an active lifestyle (a minimum of two hours of physical activity per week of moderate to intense intensity) can actually prevent these diseases. The risk of mortality also increases with the number of inactive hours. Fortunately, it’s never too late to adopt good habits.
Brisk walking (for example during lunch break at work), cycling, jogging; a kinesiologist can help you target ideal times to be active while providing you with the proper tools to do so.
Experts suggest starting with a low-intensity activity (walking, for example) and increase gradually. The idea is to integrate the exercises into your lifestyle so that they become a long-term habit. Another little trick; modify your desk to work standing up! There are inexpensive options to make this happen. You could also just use a stack of books to elevate your workstation.
Reducing inactive behaviors and moving towards active behaviors also has a positive effect on both mental and physical health. These small, easy-to-integrate actions can make a big difference to everyone’s well-being.