To think office jobs are very unhealthy

[blowingbubbles1]

Sitting at a desk from 9-5 slouched over a screen, hardly moving. I’ve noticed a lot of people also eat at their desk and only get up to go to the bathroom. Before having my dc I always worked full time in a corporate office job but since taking some time off and now going back into it I can really feel the difference in my body after sitting down all day. I only work 3 days a week but during that time don’t take a break as nobody else seems to (it’s a new role) but my gosh I cannot imagine doing this plus the commute every day! Even for the money (I am my no means well off) I would prefer less money but better physical health!

It is interesting, on the retirement age threads people will often say it is okay to retire later if you have a desk job rather than a physical one, but the sedentary nature of them is very poor for the health.

All the guidance is for regular screen breaks but that is hard to do if the working culture is not to leave your desk.

You need to create opportunities to get away from your desk if you can - in person meetings and things.

And lunchtimes you also need to try and get out - a good time to do a gym class if you have time to accommodate it!!

I work in an office and am not slouched over my screen all day. I'm up and about a lot, going to talk to different colleagues, walk to meetings etc. I take a break at lunch outside. I also consciously sit properly, make sure my workspace is adjusted correctly, and I and dont slouch.
I cycle there and back, so dont feel inactive after a day's work.

It does not have to be like that however you are correct, some people do operate like that.

When I was working I would always walk to the train station (40-mins) or if I was on the bus, walk to the next stop instead of the one closest to me.
At work I would always try to use the stairs instead of the lift. I would get up and go for a quick stroll from time to time (it is fine for smokers to disappear all the time) or if I wanted the loo, I would walk up/down the stairs to a loo on a different floor. I always went out for a walk at lunchtime.

If you work from home it's fine. Can literally work while doing yoga.

I find if I am very busy at work I leave the office physically tired, even though I just "sit at a computer all day". I notice a difference to the days when it's less frantic.

It’s not being down a mine or picking fruit (I wouldn't be fit enough to do those), but it is tiring.

I do 5k steps before I go to the office and always do 15-20k a day in total. Yes I am glued to my desk 8.30-5 but rest of day I can still get a decent amount of exercise in.

It’s only unhealthy if you make it.

You can gym or exercise before or after work.
Eat healthy.
Go for long walks in the evening.

There’s people working 12 hour days or nights and they have a healthy lifestyle because they make the effort.

i assume you’re a yoga teacher??

Yes! I changed from an active, on my feet all day job to a desk based / wfh role 4 years ago and I feel like my body has aged badly in that time, my eating habits have gone to shit and menopause has hit. I plan on changing jobs in the next 6 months, I can't do this for another 15+ years!

Sitting is worse than smoking imagine that blood just pooling in the feet for 7 hours 🤢

We should all be getting up and moving for at least 10 mins every hour.

My goodness if we want to save the NHS etc just make sure everyone is encouraged to move for ten minutes every hour.

With hot desking it’s even worse as every desk set up is different. We used to have to do ergonomic assessments but now you rock up and sit at a desk.

I’ve got a sedentary desk job - in the office 2-3 days a week. The days I’m home I’m better about building in breaks, go and sit in the garden for 5 minutes, put a load of washing on, go to the gym at lunch or even just a walk.
When I’m in the office I’m better if I don’t take lunch in because it forces me away from my desk and to stretch my legs for the 10 minute walk to M&S and 10 minutes back and I might also wander round other shops. Today though I took lunch in and pretty much didn’t leave my desk apart from a couple of trips to fill my water up and go to the loo. It’s rare though as I usually purposely don’t take lunch!
I’m not sat slumped over my desk though, I’m comfortable and sit properly at the correct height and use a foot rest and a laptop riser so it’s the same height as my monitor.
I did get up at about 3:30 though and have a little tidy up of a messy area as I did need to get away from my desk for a bit.

I’m an active person and I’ve come from a role that had me up and down all day. I enjoy the new job but my body is not enjoying being sat down all day and it blows my mind to see people not moving for 9 hours. I sit next to someone who drinks hardly any water all day because she doesn’t want to keep going to the toilet. No wonder people are dying at a younger age.

I hate sitting for long periods. It would drive me insane, have a brisk walk on your lunch break, stretch regularly, it might feel strange to start with, they might start stretching too.

Funnily enough I went into the toilet today and did some stretches!

A standing desk worked wonders for me.

i completely agree, I wish the government would send this memo to employers… starting with mine please 🤓

No I'm a lawyer - I can do yoga while doing most of my work and it helps my focus (not meetings unless you count Sukhasana)

I have never worked with people who sit at their desks all day, some people go for a run at lunchtime break or use a gym.
I walk to work, which takes 40 minutes, and walk back home. My lunchtime breaks are active.
The manager and the company encourage people to take breaks. If you sit at the desk all day, it will look weird. I pay attention to my posture. Gosh, my health is more important than anything.
If employees are healthy they can perform better.

I had a very sedentary office job at an out of town office so everyone drives to the car park, stays at their desk at lunchtime then walks the 20 metres to their car at the end of the day.

When I was 50 I left office work for a manual job outdoors.
Ten years later and I am still friends with the two women I worked with there.

They're still in the same job and are the same age as me but oh my goodness the difference in our fitness levels is huge. I have to slow right down when I walk with them and they both have joint problems.

As you age you lose fitness so quickly if you don't work at it and it's much harder to get it back.

I try and stand when I’m not on a call but we can’t take time away from our desk except for allocated breaks
can move about a bit but I’m attached with a headset!

Op you can see how bizzare this is maybe lead the charge and just move!!

Drink water and move every hour.

I do chair yoga when working from home, company pay for us to attend Zoom classes at lunchtime break if we want. Its only 30 min twice a week but it feels good.
And we have fresh fruit delivered twice a week.

They can be OP and I’ve witnessed people spending their days like that (& also the constant stream of cakes, biscuits etc in some offices).
Before I had a child I worked full time in an office (though the job involved going out and about) but I would go for a run before or after work, or gym classes, a walk at lunchtime, yoga when I woke up.
Now I work from home 3 days / week and my time around that is not so flexible with a young dd. But instead I walk the school run (usually both drop off and pick up) totalling around 4 miles a day, I do weights workouts or jog on my day off, up and down stairs to make drinks etc, yoga in evening.
Not to mention all the running around / housework etc that are par for the course with a family.
I’m an active and fairly health conscious person so I do what I can to incorporate that into my day, wherever I’m working.