Sitting in front of a computer (or on the couch) for hours and hours is slowly killing us. The lack of physical activity is creating undesirable health consequences that are robbing us of years of life.
Through the years our lives have become more sedentary, but if we add winter into the mix, and Coronavirus, we are staying longer hours indoors, without moving much.
Our bodies were made for walking and moving, but we are not doing too much of that lately.
There are many studies that show a direct relationship between sitting down for many hours and an increase in mortality rate.
How much walking/moving do we need in order to escape the nefarious effect of prolonged sitting?
I have taken the habit of walking for at least 20 minutes a day. In general, these are not pleasant walks. It’s cold. I just walk around the neighborhood and I see the same houses all over again. But I always listen to a podcast episode and that makes my walking more bearable.
I am NOT looking forward to walking in the -20c temperatures typical of Montreal winters, but if I want to keep my physical health and my mental sanity, I have to get out of my apartment and move my body.
At least once a week I walk with a friend. These are longer walks of 60 to 75 minutes, and they energize my body and makes me feel like a sane person again.
Researchers have concluded that the sweet spot for physical activity and longevity seemed to arrive at about 35 minutes a day of brisk walking or other moderate activities, an amount that led to the greatest statistical improvement in life span, no matter how many hours someone sat.
Before Coronavirus, I used to have a social life, I would visit friends and go to events, but now I work every day of the week, every possible hour. And that’s because I am always locked up inside my apartment and have nothing else to do but work. This is not healthy for my mental or physical health. The only solace is that I take that 20-minute walk every day.
Before going to bed, I also do 20 minutes of Yoga. I have never been a great believer in Yoga. I have always preferred more active physical activities. But because of this pandemic, and because of my age (53-year-old), it’s the perfect physical activity for me.
I encourage you to do something similar. Get out while the sun is still shining and go somewhere or nowhere, but get out of your house. See if you can arrange a walking date with a friend. If you can do it on a regular basis, even better.
And then, see if you can follow some kind of exercise at home. It could vary from doing aerobics with a YouTube instructor to riding your stationary bike. It doesn’t matter! what matters is that you move your body.
How are you doing?
Are you taking care of your mental health? Are you making a point to have some kind of connection with someone? Are you making a point to go out for a walk or to do some home exercises?
We will survive this pandemic. We just need to hold on a little bit longer. A vaccine has been discovered. There is light at the end of the tunnel. All we need to do is to stay alive and healthy long enough until we get vaccinated, or at least until the great majority of people around us get vaccinated.
If you feel like chatting, send me a direct message, I answer all my emails.
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