Today’s post comes from guest author Jay Causey, from Causey Law Firm in Seattle.
He addresses a topic that is a struggle for folks in many occupations, whether they think about it or not: sitting. This blog post struck me because in addition to the workers Mr. Causey writes about below, there is another group of people who don’t have a whole lot of choice when it comes to taking breaks: truck drivers who sit just as long, if not longer, as many office workers in a day. Although Mr. Causey takes a slightly lighter approach to the topic, it should be of serious long-term concern and consideration. Because many just don’t have the luxury of taking many or frequent breaks.
So how can business owners and employees work together to make sure workers are as healthy as possible at their jobs (and also can help keep insurance costs down)? Now that’s a good question that demands not only thought but also action.
Here’s another “helpful hint” about your own health, for attorneys and clients who may be tuning in to our blog. Nothing here directly related to workers’ compensation, except to the extent that overall good health can ward off injury and illness.
A Kansas State University study in 2013 concluded the people who sit for four hours or more each day are at a substantially greater risk for developing cancer, diabetes and heart disease. And the risk for degenerative disease continues to increase at a consistent rate for six hours, eight hours, and more, of daily sitting.
The further finding of the study was that the increased risk of disease was not correlated with high or low body mass index, meaning that outside factors, such as poor eating and other negative lifestyle habits are not nearly as significant as the risk factor of just sitting.
A report from Northwestern University earlier this year found that, over age 60, every additional hour spent sitting doubles the risk of becoming disabled. And, somewhat disappointingly, additional exercise has no impact on the disability risk. Australian researchers recently found that people whose job or other circumstances require prolonged sitting, but who just regularly stood up and moved around frequently, were better off than sitters who did 30 minutes of exercise each day.
None of the foregoing is intended to diminish the importance of regular exercise in our daily lives, but the lesson is: don’t stay chained to your desk and computer. Stand up and walk around when you’re on the phone, do laps around the office, walk to a coworker’s office instead of emailing – – do whatever it takes to get out of the sitting position as often as possible.
Your author manages his law firm mostly on his feet. After reading about the issue with sitting, he stood and walked, without sitting, for four hours at a firm event last week. (He’s now training himself to stand — and rock back and forth on his feet– for long periods when watching TV at home. Houseguests will be fully advised.)