Sitting Too Damn Much


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Sitting Too Damn Much

 

I don't know about you, but the greatest portion of my waking life is sitting. I spend long hours on the computer and reading books.

 

I have noticed that I get cramps and creaky feelings when I sit for too long, but I also notice that I hate like hell to interrupt what I am doing to take a short break.

 

That last is my lizard brain in control. Once it is in a safe spot, it likes to stay there. And it takes the rest of me with it. So to get through to ole' crocky and get it to accept the habit of periodic breaks, I need to attack it from different directions.

 

Information is a good start for someone who works mostly with information. :)

 

Here's a great video put out by an ergometric furniture manufacturer on posture. (Incidentally, this is in my opinion the best long-term marketing plan: selling through education.)

 

Office Posture Matters: An Animated Guide from Flikli on Vimeo.

 

I looked up the furniture company--Varier--on Amazon and saw that it's products are pretty expensive. For example, the cheapest one I could find for adults was Varier Variable Balans, The Original Kneeling Chair at a little under 400 smackaroonies. (But guess who's starting to save for one? :) )

 

Also, Rich Schefren, an Internet marketing guru I am now studying, made a suggestion in a lecture I watched. He said when you take a break, try to go outside and get some sunshine on you. Even if it's only a minute or two. There's a deep biological thing going on with this.

 

I started doing it and I can feel the tug of approval from the primitive part of my brain. It likes sunshine after a spell of none. This is actually making it easier to adopt the habit of frequent breaks.

 

I hope I am not bullshitting myself. :)

 

But I don't think I am. I really do feel this stuff.

 

Food for thought for the deep sitters on OL. :)

 

Michael

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A few yrs ago my back pain went away thanks to my doc. He had advised me, when sitting, to tighten the abs, sit straight up and get my shoulders back.

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I use a standing desk at work and for my amateur painting hobby. I'm a big fan of avoiding too much sitting. I don't think you're bs'ing yourself on this.

Donald Rumsfeld not only stood at a lectern and ate lunch standing up.

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I use a standing desk at work as well. The adjustable kind is the best, so you can alternate between standing and sitting. Standing keeps me much more alert and engaged - if it's better for my health, then that's a bonus as well.

When I used to sit for most of the day, I would drink water in small sips from a glass. This would force me to get up regularly to refill the water or use the restroom - again, if better for my health, another bonus.

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Google search on "Victor Hugo wrote standing up" - link.

From an article called "The Peculiar Habits of Writers at Work," by Genevieve Brown:

link

Here we learn that Victor Hugo wrote standing up, Calvin wrote in bed, Schiller put his feet in hot water, and Dryden "often had himself bled."

And an article titled "Who Wrote at Standing Desks? Kierkegaard, Dickens and Ernest Hemingway Too" - link.

The first comment:

Cat says . . . | October 3, 2013 / 7:21 am

and Victor Hugo too ! while Albert Einstein worked at a standing desk as well

Edit: I don't find verification for the statement that Einstein worked at a standing desk. He worked out equations at a blackboard, but I didn't find anything about his using a standing desk.

Ellen

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I spend a fair amount of time at the computer and my current approach to this issue is to intersperse kettlebell exercises with my sitting, and to sit straight without leaning against the back of the chair. It has done wonders for my back! :smile:

Greg

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A large exercise ball like the type used in Pilates makes an excellent ergonomic chair and won't break the bank.

Start Position for All Levels. Kneel on mat in hinge position with back of body resting on ball, one foot flat on mat with knee bent, other leg bent with toes of foot curled under.

200911-ifj-pg80-24.jpg

Essential. Inhale: press body into ball and extend spine back over ball. Exhale: circle arms out to sides and return to start position. Repeat 3 times each side. Cuing: Use ball as support for weight of body, and relax over ball.

200911-ifj-pg80-25.jpg

Intermediate. Inhale: extend front knee and push back over ball. Repeat 3 times each side. Cuing: Keep good pressure through foot on floor to maintain balance.

200911-ifj-pg80-23.jpg

Advanced. Inhale: add full extension of body over ball. Repeat 3 times each side. Cuing: Keep abdominals engaged while body extends over ball. Be careful not to drop head back. Keep neck in line with thoracic spine.

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