How much time do you spend on the floor and how old (ish) are you?

[MarmaladeMarxist]

I've just been to visit my sister and it got me thinking about this. As a deliberate choice her living room has no sofas/armchairs. She's got a kitchen large enough for a wooden table and chairs, and then there were 2 other smallish downstairs rooms that have been knocked through into 1 bigger room and it's pretty much entirely floor based. It feels a bit studenty at first tbh but the more I think about it the more I like it!

There's lots of cushions/beanbags that they move round the room depending what they're doing. There is a large coffee table that they often eat at, a TV corner, and a sort of reading nook. All at floor level. She's also got some low wooden stools that double up as moveable tables. She WFH most of the week and sits on the floor to do it. Her (teenage) DC do their homework, art, board gaming etc sitting on the floor. She is in her early 50s and is up and down off the floor about a million times a day, and it really shows in how easy she finds it!! She was telling me about how one of the key things as you get older is to make sure you get get yourself up off the floor because it can save your life as an older person.

I don't think I could give up my sofa 🤣 but it did make me think about how little I get up and down off the floor and that I should do it more. I did it more when my DC were little, obviously, but as they've grown up it's not something I need to do very much.

I find floors feel very hard these days, my knees and backside don't like them any more!

Only when I've fallen off my horse! Mid 60's.

I can sit on the floor but as I don't have any carpets it's bloody uncomfortable and I'll get at least one dog trying to fit himself into my lap.

Not much while relaxing. But I do yoga every day which involves a fair bit of up and down, roll about with two stupid, playful Labradors. And I spy on my bedroom floor to do my hair and make up and on the (stone!) hall floor to tie my laces- I always make a point on standing up without touching the floor with my hands. I’ve also heard it’s an important skill to maintain for mobility and flexibility.

I never sit on the floor. I like my comfort too much.

I am on the floor loads with my one year old. Unfortunately I feel about 90 when it’s time to stand up but I’m only 35.

What do you mean by ‘helps ground us’ ?

I’m working at doing it more. I had almost three years when osteo-arthritis and a bout of tendonitis after my hip replacement made it harder, but I’ve no excuses now. My almost 80 year old husband can still sit and then stand straight up, hands free, from a cross-legged position (and squat right onto his heels) so I have envyandhatred a role model.

Same -age, cat and yoga, although I’ve let the yoga slide for several months. I need to get back in gear as I have osteoarthritis and I’ve noticed I’ve really stiffened up without my regular yoga.

I'm a childminder so spend half my life on the floor 😂
Love getting up on the sofa with my feet up in the evening though!

Only ever if I have to. I don’t find sitting on the floor comfortable. Your sisters living room sounds odd and unwelcoming.

We find it helps when we're feeling overstimulated. I think its the feeling of something solid underneath us im not really sure but its weirdly soothing laying on the floor when everything else feels too much

I’m 46 but this is me too. I stand in weird positions, ny balance is weird is I have to stand in two feet and it gets painful after a few mins, standing in one leg like a flamingo it sometimes I rest my other leg on the kitchen counter or sideboards. Someone once thought I’d had ballet training 😂

I was told by my rheumatologist that I’m hyper mobile and that the weird standing and sitting positions is quite common. I’ve also got rheumatoid arthritis that hurts much much more if I sit normally on a sofa.

The only issue I have is that if I’m doing something interesting I lost track of time and I often don’t realise my legs have gone numb and dead from sitting cross legged so long and then get those horrible pins and needles that shoot through your whole legs if so much as blink.

I've never been comfortable sitting on the floor, even as a kid. I used to hate assembly at primary school for that reason. I have never been able to sit cross-legged, my legs and hips just don't do that, and any other leg configuration gives me backache as well. I would never choose to sit on the floor indoors. DH, on the other hand, does it all the time.

Oh no I couldn't be without my sofas.

I agree with making sure as you age that you can get up from the floor. I'm 64 and I sit on the floor and get up without using my hands at least once every single day. I also stand on one foot to brush my teeth. Morning right foot, evening left.

I wouldn’t say I sit on the floor for leisure as much now kids are older (still play board games on the floor - definately did all day long with babies/toddlers), but still get on the floor to clean, tidy, sweep, fold washing, wrap presents, exercise class etc. 40’s and try to keep as fit as possible. If there’s a family get together, happy to sit on the floor if all chairs are taken. Picnics/beach in the Summer.

In my work, I see people who’s mobility is so terrible at middle age (obviously not referring to anyone with major health conditions), but just through lack of movement. It spurs me on to keep as active as possible as it must be horrible to be limited as to what you can do. I can’t imagine not being able just to sit on the floor and get back up again.

I avoid the floor

A fair bit at the moment as my youngest is almost one, also tend to be on the floor while I tidy. Occasionally, I like to sit on the floor with the kids for no real reason. Now that I think about it, I guess I kind of like it. Although, since having my youngest, my back and legs ache a lot and it can hurt getting back up.

My understanding is that is fine to use your arms/hands if you use them to push up directly from the floor rather than rely on pulling up by holding on to furniture.

@justtheotheronemrswembley me too and I hated baby groups or toddler groups with mums all sat easily on the floor !

I'm mid thirties and spend most of the day on the floor with my little one. I've always enjoyed sitting on the floor anyway and find it quite comfortable

Is this a known thing? A friend of mine went through a terrible trauma and she would sometimes drop to the ground and lie flat and say it 'grounded' her. I didn't know if it was instinctive or something recommended to her, but it seemed to help.

I think this is going to be my New Year's resolution then to try and get up from the floor. Like I said earlier I have alot of mobility issues and so basically have never given it much thought. I think i will try now.

(My other New Year Resolution was to 'have more fun'. )

64 always on the floor at home. I have never got into the habit of sitting on sofas or chairs, obviously I do when I am out and expected to. I am a lot more flexible than most people and also have very good balance. I may just be lucky but I think floor to standing is good exercise.

I'm 39 with a toddler and teaching infants. I'm never off the floor and lucky if I get a seat 🤣

I tend to sit on the floor when visiting family/friends as I’m quite mobile and so find it easier than some others.

But I would never get rid of my sofa!

Curling up on the sofa with a blanket, glass of wine and good tv is one of the greatest simple pleasures in life.

Being on the floor and squatting are amazing for your body.
Apparently sitting is why so many people in the west have back problems as other countries tend to spend most of the day standing or squatting.

I always wonder if women who have kids older are more likely to have less mobility problems as they get older due to being on the floor more.