Think You’re Exercising at Work?

I can’t tell you how often patients respond to my questions about their daily exercise habits by telling me something like, “Well, I run around all day at work…” 

That’s nice. Yes, it’s important to make sure you get up and move around periodically through the day if you mostly sit at a desk. It does help keep you from atrophying away, and it’s great for refreshing yourself and maintaining focus over many hours. Any physical activity is always better than no physical activity. 

But if you’re not getting your heart and respiration rate up, you’re not actually getting the biggest benefits of exercise. If your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight are staying the same or on the rise, if your general fitness and energy levels are stagnant, obviously your work “workout” isn’t cutting it. 

Exercise Should Be a Specific, Dedicated Activity 

Again, it’s great to move around as much as possible at work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk a few laps around the halls before lunch. Go over to the copy machine yourself instead of asking someone else who’s heading that way. Do some stretches in the restroom. Bounce your knees up and down at your desk. 

But don’t mistake this for your exercise routine. 

It’s important that you set aside specific, dedicated time to exercise. I know, it’s hard, you’re busy. But if you prioritize it as it deserves to be prioritized, you’ll find a way. Family, work, sleep, leisure, and exercise… it belongs in there with the other things that are of utmost importance. 

Make your workout a dedicated part of your routine. You have to build it in and think of it as its own specific item in your schedule if you want to stick with it for the long haul. We’re creatures of habit, and adopting positive habits as routine is how we achieve better health and better lives.