How many steps have you taken today? I will share with you a shocking secret. One day this week, my step count by 5pm was only just over 1,000 steps. My plan to walk had been derailed by an impromptu school run (missed bus), morning meetings and then an afternoon of training. I could see the sun shining, I was strapped to my laptop and teams meetings.
April 29th is On Your Feet Britain Day. It is a day dedicated to changing ‘sitting time’ to ‘standing time’ and getting people who sit, moving more. You may have seen the media headlines ‘Sitting is the new smoking’ but if you are desk bound, knowing where to start building movement into your working day takes motivation and a degree of creativity.
“Get up offa that thing’’
The On Your Feet Britain challenge encourages you to take James Brown at his word and convert ‘sitting time’ to ‘standing time’. Make some simple changes – it’s easier than you think:
- Stand during phone calls
- Stand and take a break from your computer every 30 minutes
- Use the stairs more
- Arrange standing or walking meetings
- Eat your lunch away from your desk
- Do simple stretches led by the speaker, every time you move to a new agenda item during a meeting
While this is one day focussed on getting moving, but another suggestion is to appoint a champion within your business ‘a chief wiggle officer’ to lead and co-ordinate team or orgnaisational effort.
Studies have linked being inactive with being overweight and obese, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and early death and the UK Chief Medical Officer has set guidelines for physical activity which is worth a read. 150 minutes a week may sound like a big target, it is actually only 21 mins per day or 30 mins over 5 days. So if you are now working from home, or you aren’t travelling as much why not think about what has happened to your travel or commute time and build that into your day – why not use that 30 mins to go for a walk or do some stretching.
Whatever you choose to do, wiggle it, waggle it, don’t just sit on it!
