Sit Behind a Desk All Day? Why Regular Exercise is Nonnegotiable

Sophia Belnap

If you have a desk job, it’s likely that you live a sedentary lifestyle. Most desk workers spend the majority of their waking hours seated, only to come home exhausted and with a host of domestic tasks waiting for them that make it hard to combat the effects of hours and hours of sitting down. 

Exercise is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for those who spend a large part of their days sitting and staring at screens. Read on for a list of reasons it’s important for those in sedentary jobs to prioritize exercise both on and off the job. 

It Increases Energy

Though exercise does expend a notable amount of extra, stored energy, regular workouts actually set your body up to increase the amount of energy available for each day’s tasks. Exercise helps your heart, lungs and muscles to function better and more efficiently, and when your body uses less energy to maintain basic functions, you have more at your disposal to tackle the day. 

If you’re typically feeling lethargic and find it hard to get motivated to workout, give yourself an energy boost by including a helpful supplement, such as the Thrive patch, to keep you alert and ready to get your heart rate up. 

It Supports Muscle Tone

With prolonged periods of sitting, your muscles not only cease from getting any stronger, but they can also begin to atrophy. Muscle strength is more than just appearances. Strong, fit and healthy muscles support your body in basic, everyday tasks like walking, supporting good posture, bending over and even various, regular bodily functions. Good muscle tone can even prevent injuries down the road. 

It Boosts Your Mood

Being trapped in a cubicle all day can really put a damper on your mood. Those who engage in regular exercises tend to report better moods overall, and it’s no wonder why. Exercise releases beneficial endorphins that reduce pain sensations in the body, elevates your mood and triggers neurotransmitters associated with the reward centers in your brain. The effects of exercise outlast the duration of your workout, too, so you can reap the benefits long after you’ve hit the gym. 

It Aids in Sleep

Sleeplessness is a common, aggravating complaint facing a large number of adults. A lack of sleep makes it difficult to focus on every task on your list during the day, and can even wreak havoc on your health. Exercise has been shown to reduce the amount of time that it takes to sleep, as well as resulting in a better night’s rest overall, so you can stay sharp and on-task while on the job. 

It Wards Off Disease

You’ve spent a great deal of time earning your sick and vacation days, and you deserve to use them wisely and not out of necessity. Sedentary lifestyles, common with desk jobs, are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and stroke. Even just 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise can make a difference in your health and prevent worrisome illnesses. 

It Increases Your Focus

Cortisol, the body’s hormonal response to stress, makes it difficult to perform even basic tasks when released in large amounts. Cortisol impairs your memory and creates challenging circumstances in your brain that make it hard to maintain focus and concentration. Inversely, exercise stimulates neurotransmitters that aid in brain cell formation and help you to better control and manage emotional stress, which can result in clearer thinking and sharper focus. 

It Keeps Your Weight Stable

Though it’s nice aesthetically to fit into the same pair of jeans you wore in high school, a stable weight reduces or eliminates many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of worrisome health conditions. 

Inactivity is a main contributor to weight gain. Being overweight increases your risk for innumerable diseases, and a sedentary desk job does neither your waistline nor your health any favors. Try to find time to get up and get moving, even throughout the day, to counteract the effects of sitting on your body and invest in a stronger, healthier you despite your work’s sedentary requirements.