Escape Your Chair
More than half of those who are working from home as a result of Covid-19 restrictions estimate they are sitting down for an average of two hours and 40 minutes longer per day, a new survey has found.
The survey which was commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation is warning of the dangers of sitting down for long periods and calling on workers to move for a minute each hour during the working day.
“We are urging people to get up and move regularly during their working day and would like to see employers make an effort to shorten meeting times on video conferencing” commented Tara Curran, Physical Activity Coordinator , The Irish Heart Foundation.
Campaign ambassador, fitness expert, radio and tv broadcaster and author Karl Henry emphasised the need to move regularly to counteract the negative effects of sitting down. “I am delighted to support the Irish Heart Foundation’s Escape Your Chair Heart Month campaign which encourages us all to get out of the chair and move,” he said.
“Workers who find themselves sitting down for longer can kick-start their daily exercise by making sure to stand up and move away from the desk for a minute each hour during the working day. Being physically active can release endorphins that can help relieve stress, boost mood, and improve self-esteem.
“When we find ourselves in a stressful situation at work, a quick stroll can help clear our heads while also helping our hearts and reducing our sitting time.”
The average person in Ireland spends nearly seven hours every weekday sitting down and people who work from home because of the coronavirus have reported that they now spend on average an extra two hours and 40 minutes sitting down!
Do you know how long you spend sitting down? Why not take our online sitting calculator and find out? Calculate your sitting here https://irishheart.ie/campaigns/escape-your-chair/calculator/
Sign up for the challenge at www.EscapeYourChair.ie
