Between blogging and school work, I end up spending a LOT of time on my computer when I’m at home. That used to translate to a lot of time sitting down being completely inactive, but shortly after we moved in to our apartment in Chapel Hill last fall I discovered something awesome — the ledge (I think it’s called a breakfast bar) between our kitchen and dining room is the perfect height for standing up while working on my laptop!
Since the fall, anytime I’m writing blog posts, checking in on Twitter or Facebook, or working on a school assignment, I’ve done it standing up. Matt calls it my “perch” — if I’m home, I’m usually here. 🙂
I think I originally got the idea from UNC — in the computer lab in my public health building on campus, one whole row of the computer stations are built so the person using them is standing up. It’s so awesome, especially after sitting in class all day! When I was working full time, the hardest thing for me was sitting still all day. Even though I always took a nice long lunch time walking break, I still felt really restless and stiff after a long day in an office chair. I’m so passionate about the fact that humans were NOT made to sit still for 8, 9, 10, 12 hours per day. It’s crazy and so bad for us!
I’m a big believer in the fact that every small change you make towards better health will make a difference. You don’t have to overhaul your life — just start simple! Whether it’s creating a makeshift standing desk for yourself, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking farther away in the parking lot, it all adds up.
What small change have you made lately to improve your health? Please share — it will be a great way for all of us to get some new healthy tips and ideas! 🙂
