You’ve probably heard the phrase that “sitting is the new smoking”.   There is some truth to this, though few things in life are that simple (it depends partly on how you sit). 

There’s a simple way to counteract the effects of sitting for long periods. I do this on Zoom calls when my video is off, or when I’m at the computer for longer than is ideal.

Plant your feet on the floor. Press them into the floor as you lift yourself off the chair seat a few centimetres, then sit back down. Repeat a few times.  The lower and softer your chair, the more challenging this will be.

The more times you do this in a day, the more strength you’ll develop in your thighs and core muscles, and the more likely it will be that you’ll be able to get out of your chair when you’re deep into your wisdom years.  

Like any new habit that supports our long-term health, the challenge is to remember to do it enough times that it becomes part of daily life.  Post-it notes work really well, until they don’t. Try different colours of paper, and move them to a different spot in your home or office.

You might find that your mid-afternoon slump is less likely to occur, from this one simple change to your daily routine.