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Remember the Olivia Newton John song, “Let’s Get Physical” or Nike’s trademark phrase, “Just Do It”?
I do. I remember them well. But neither of these phrases affected me more than the latest health slogan “Sitting is the new smoking.” Gotta admit that phrase makes me think, and every time I hear it, I jump out of my chair and jog 200 steps in place.
It’s gotten to the point that when I’m away from my keyboard, I feel guilty. Then when I’m at my keyboard, I feel guilty for not exercising.
I bought a Veridesk so I can stand while I type. I have a treadmill inside my office and I walk outdoors several times a week. I do Yoga and stretching exercises. But the truth is I write books, and sometimes I just want to stare at my monitor and think.
Some author friends have their keyboard and monitors attached to their treadmills. They admit they don’t go very fast, but they are moving. My friend Annette has a dancing app. She swears by it.
Personally, I find the phrase, “Sitting is the new smoking,” debatable. Particularly if you’ve ever seen a black lung. Barely out of my toddler years, I can remember my registered nurse mother giving shots to a cancer patient. Trust me, those visits cured my need to inhale–anything.
Then again, we do have these things called veins and arteries, and heart disease is the number one killer of women. So doubtless the experts are on to something.
Guess that slogan has done its job because it’s made me hyper-aware. Do health slogans work for you? For me? Absolutely.
Here’s something else I do that you might find helpful.
- Keep a large glass of water by your desk (and remember to drink it). It’ll create a very urgent need that will force you to move elsewhere.
- Keep cut up vegetables in your fridge (my personal favorites are carrots, yellow peppers and cucumbers) Many love celery. Even slathered with peanut butter or cream cheese, I’m not a fan.
- Set a timer as a reminder to get up from your desk. (I find this particularly helpful)
Mix up your routine, with walking, running, dancing and stretching. You don’t have to run a marathon. Just move.
Well, gotta run… Literally. How much do you exercise? Care to share any tips?
I walk every morning, but that’s about it re planned exercise. Often I run through the parking lot pushing a full cart of groceries. Does that count?
While writing, I don’t just sit at my desk — I get up and do things every half hour or so, like dishes, laundry, getting something to eat or drink. If I get stumped while writing, getting up and moving helps me think.
Barbara, of course it counts. It’s so easy to sit and while away the hours. You go (literally, my friend :))
Good tips. Sitting slows down thinking after a while. I’m not good at sitting, anyway. If I get stuck on a scene, I get up and walk around, dance a little, whatever it takes. And I get my best ideas while running a few miles. Great minds think alike, Donnell. I did a post on this for Ladies of Mystery a couple of years ago. https://ladiesofmystery.com/2017/12/28/butt-in-chair/
Oh, I agree, Amber. Your brain must be on fire. You never sit down. Thanks for validating my thinking!