Desks Bad for Workers’ Health

Posted on 16. Jan, 2012 by Emily in General

Desks Bad for Workers’ Health – A recent study has revealed that sitting at a desk all day is bad for workers’ health. The data was collected from 1,000 employers where the researchers found that the average office worker spends 5 hours and 41 minutes sitting at a desk– about the same amount of time they spend sleeping each night.

Desks Bad for Workers’ Health

The study was conducted by occupational psychologists Dr. Myanna Duncan, Aadil Kazi, and Professor Cheryl Haslam of Loughborough University. The information will be presented at the British Psychological Society’s annual conference in Chester.

Their conclusions seem to be that sitting at as desk all day is more detrimental to your well-being then you might think. Not only does it mean being inactive and perpetuating the already epidemic level of overweight individuals and heart disease, but workers who sit at their desks all day have their mental health affected.

The researchers also concluded that people who spend more time sitting at work are more likely to go home and spend the rest of their day sitting.

Dr. Duncan, of the study, stated:

“People don’t need a psychologist to tell them to get up and walk around. But if it helps, I’d tell them to put a post-it note on their computer to remind them. Anyway, go and talk to your colleagues face to face, it’s a lot more sociable and better for you than emailing them.”

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Anyone who’s had to spend their work day stuck behind a desk can attest to the fact that it breeds lethargy and bad moods. At least that’s how I’ve always felt. The worst part is that we’re too inactive as a society to begin with, but maybe having all of your energy zapped by spending 6 hours at a desk is part of that reason.

If you spend most of your time at work sitting, and feel like you go home and sit some more, then it’s absolutely imperative that you make some changes in your lifestyle to compensate for this. Not only should you be scheduling time to exercise regularly at least 3 times a week, but you should also be trying to move around more at work. Can you get up once an hour to move around? Go to the bathroom? Get a glass of water?

I thought what Dr. Duncan said was spot on about talking to your colleagues in person rather than in email. Not only does that promote better inter-office relationships, but it also means you get to stretch your legs.

It’s easy to feel depressed at work, especially when you’re stuck behind a desk. I know it sounds cliche, but I really don’t think human beings were built to be sedentary creatures and because of this biological truth, we often feel the emotional consequences of our settings. Kind of like animals stuck in cages.

There are many ways you can combat the 6-hours-at-a-desk blues. Let’s take a look at some ways you can improve your mood at work.

Desks Bad for Workers' Health

Get More Sunshine

It’s easy to feel angry or depressed when you’re stuck inside not getting your daily dose of vitamin D! Sunshine is imperative to happiness, which is why you need to make sure you’re spending your lunch break taking a walk or getting one of those little artificial sunlight desk lamps. They’re cheap (starting around $35) and increase your brain’s pleasure hormone serotonin.

Exercise

Exercise gives you an energy boost, helps combat feelings of sluggishness in the long run and makes it easier to focus. It also releases endorphins in your brain making you feel good.

Give Your Desk A Makeover

It doesn’t have to be garish, but consider giving your desk a boost of color. Green and yellow are happy colors that are meant to inspire thoughts of optimism, laughter and money. Also consider placing photos of people you love at your desk as a reminder of the happiness that waits for you in the outside world.

Indulge In Your Home-life

When you’re at home make sure you indulge in all the happiness your home life provides for you. Spend time with your kids, go on a walk with your dog, find time for romance and sex with your partner. All the burdens and trouble of work should be left at the office. Coming to work with the happiness at home will improve your mood as will knowing that you’re going back to it.

You might be feeling the effects of being stuck at a desk all day at work, but you also have the power to change all that! Take the initiative to keep your mental and physical health in tip top shape, even if you’re stuck sitting all day in the office. Desks Bad for Workers’ Health.

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