Break Free From Your Desk & Start Moving!

A friend recently told me that he felt chained to his desk. He was looking for ways to do his work while liberating himself from the restraints of the desk-bound routine that had become his daily habit.

Dr Levine from the Mayo Clinic draws a strong comparison between sitting and smoking, saying: “We are sitting ourselves to death.” The consequences of prolonged sitting are noteworthy: individuals who spend more than 7 hours a day seated face heightened risks of depression, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and an increased likelihood of obesity, diabetes, and various forms of cancer.

Returning to my friend's scenario, the majority of his work centers on thinking and crafting strategies for his company. I suggested he step away from his desk at least once a week to play 9 holes of golf, and that he should consider golfing as productive work hours. However, he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the idea. You see, he's struggling with "productivity guilt." We have been trained to sit behind our desks since elementary school, and this pattern needs to change.

Movement is the solution. A recent Harvard article notes that exercise enlarges brain regions associated with thinking and memory. This quite literally implies that exercise can make your brain bigger. And if we're being honest, the likelihood of him not working while on the golf course is slim to none, but the change in environment and movement can stimulate creative thinking. He can still jot down new ideas, prayers, or thoughts as he plays.

Choose the movement that works for you, whether it's golf, a workout, a run, or a walk. I firmly believe this shift will ultimately elevate your creativity, productivity, and overall life quality. We need to free ourselves from the confines of our desks. So, venture out and start moving!