Sitting down and writing continuously for hours is actually dangerous for your health. Research has shown that sitting for unbroken and long periods of time is connected to significantly greater health risks, such as:
- A slower metabolism – which decreases the fat burning ability of the body, making you more prone to store excess calories.
- A slower metabolism will make it harder for you to lose weight, leading to obesity – which is itself associated with a host of medical problems.
- Deep vein thrombosis. It is a condition in which blood clots causes pulmonary embolisms.
- Your heart also suffers when you sit for long periods of time, resulting in a number of Cardiovascular diseases—such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.
- Increase in insulin resistance that leads to a greater risk of Type II diabetes.
Even if you regularly go to the gym, these few minutes of workouts are not the remedy to long hours of sitting.
What writers can do to better their health?
To temper the health risks associated with prolonged sitting, remember that activity is the key to lowering the health risks.
You can make your writing time more physically active by using an exercise ball, a treadmill desk or a standing desk.
In addition, take frequent activity breaks while writing. According to experts, it is recommended to take a few minutes of activity breaks after every 20 to 30 minutes, as research shows that body movement help in maintaining insulin response and glucose control.
I hope you liked this week’s blog post. You can read the first chapters of my urban fantasy series The Children of Ekhidna and Typhoeus on the books page. (While they are still up…)
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What are some ways you try to stay healthy?
stacy benedict 