[Mindfulist] January 19th

[January 19th] Get Moving: Get moving at your desk today. Become aware of your work life movement habits and how to improve them: Sitting Too Much? The dangers of living a sedentary life. Click “Participate” to read the article and learn about The Mindfulist project.

Throughout the day, I am required to get up and open the mailing/ package room to allow delivery drivers access to drop off packages. In the mornings, that can generally equate to 5-6 times that I have stand up from my chair, walk over to the room, unlock the door, walk back to my chair, and sit back down. When a student requests keys, I have to get up and go to the key closet to retrieve the necessary keys. The point is that I am required to get up and walk away from my desk sporadically throughout the day, which suits me just fine. When I sort the mail, I try to make an effort to use that time to move as much as possible (although when I was pregnant I worked on ways to minimize my time up on my feet).

The article brings up very good, valid points. As our society has diverged more into longer work hours and weeks and placed more emphasis on our careers, our rates of obesity, metabolic disorders, and depression have seemingly increased as well. We are discouraged from spending more time on hobbies and personal activities as these activities are “less productive” for our society. Yet wouldn’t we be serving society better if we were permitted more time to enjoy physical activities and spending time doing what we love? Luckily, I happen to be a fidgetter — I got in trouble in school and CCD classes for being a fidgetter at all. Well, who’s laughing now, Mr. and Mrs. So-and-So? My fidgetting is probably keeping me in better shape than your “sit still and be quiet” prim-and-proper nonsense. This article — and all the research it cites — validates my daily habits. I already know to take the stairs instead of the elevator and do so at every opportunity. While annoying, I’m grateful for the second-floor townhouse that requires me to go up and down stairs to leave and return home AND to go to and from my bedroom/ living area.

So if you happen to pass by my desk and I look like I’m having a blast in my chair, don’t judge me. Mimic me. I’m practicing a healthier lifestyle by just being me fidgety self.