Taking A Stand Challenge

August 27, 2019

88 1 minute read

Standing challenge - Mandy Baumgartner — I book a half hour every day on the treadmill desk to get up, move, check emails, and get my wiggles out. It is truly amazing to work at a company that offers such wonderful options for employees with desk jobs to move and stay healthy. Mandy Baumgartner, Executive Assistant & Project Manager

Over the past few decades, technology has increased our efficiency and made everyday tasks easier. It has also increased the amount of time we sit in front of screens. As a result, we have larger waist lines and a noticeable decline in overall health and wellness.

Sitting for long periods irritates my sciatica. I really appreciate being able to stand up for a good portion of my day. Kevin Hedrick, Quality Assurance

The human body was meant to move. A body in motion releases endorphins, creativity and gets the blood flowing, as well as impacts mental and physical well-being. Sitting for extended hours has a dramatic and negative impact on a person’s health, posture and well-being.

Prolonged sitting can cause a host of problems including tight hips, shoulder restrictions, low back and neck pain, and more. According to the National Institute of Health, back pain affects 8 of 10 people in their lifetime and is the leading cause of disability worldwide. The quality of our movement (or lack thereof) can and does affect the quality of our lives.

It is alarming to read statistics showing that the typical seated office worker has more musculoskeletal injuries than any other industry, including construction, metal, and transportation workers. One researcher’s conclusion stated, “Sitting is as much an occupational risk as lifting heavy weights on the job.”

From our youth through adulthood, sitting has become the new norm and we are sitting ourselves to death. The World Health Organization ranks physical inactivity or sitting too much, which causes an estimated 3.2 million deaths annually, as the fourth biggest preventable killer globally. Today, the average American spends approximately 13 hours a day sitting. Think about it, we sit:

While eating breakfast
On the way to work
At work
In front of a computer
At lunch
At dinner
While on the phone

Awareness is the first step. The question to ask yourself is “how much of my day do I spend sitting?” Starting today, take action to decrease sitting time by standing and moving throughout the day. Note to self: don’t wait for some time to open up, block off time to move on your calendar or it won’t happen.

A few other alternatives to breaking the deskbound lifestyle are to stand up while talking on the phone, during meetings or make it a walking meeting. These simple but outside the norm activities will start the process to a healthier you.

I use the standing desk feature frequently throughout the day, especially early in the morning and late in the day. Kent Williams, Engineering Manager

To combat this problem and raise awareness among their employees, TVH is taking a stand, literally, with a Take a Stand Challenge. They are providing standing desks for office employees, as well as Active Work Stations with treadmill desks and cycle desks throughout the offices. This gives employees a great opportunity to add more movement into their workday.

If you would like to know more about TVH and the Nudge Health and Wellness programs, contact Lucy DelSarto, Health & Wellness Coach for TVH Americas, at lucy.delsarto@tvh.com