Sedentary Lifestyle: A Bain

 Modernization has changed us all, we spend more time sitting or being idle than we do standing, let alone be physically active.

The abundance of technology, the bad habits, the lethargic rituals and a tapestry of other factors have thrust many of us into a sedentary lifestyle — so much so, that we can’t let go of it. But, where there is a will to better, there is a way.

You may not know this, but poor posture and excessive sitting are slow, silent killers. Shocking, but true.

Here we look at three sitting and posture related factors and how you can change your lifestyle for the better — starting with the mind.

Your mind is the key

A healthy mind is a healthy body and vice versa. Excessive sitting is a physical health factor as well as a mental health issue .

Did you know that being sedentary starts thinning certain parts of your brain? Well, it turns out that your medial temporal lobe (MTL) shows visible thinning when you sit for long periods — and the thinning of the MTL is associated with disorders like cognitive disabilities and dementia.

Excessive sitting can also cause psychological distress, which ranges from nervousness to severe depression. When you are idle, your body’s oxygenated blood supply to the brain reduces, causing cognitive changes that can have a negative impact on your wellbeing. This continual lack of blood circulation can have a big influence on your mood, and not in a good way.

The mind is the nerve centre of all thought processes and commands, so keeping it active and sound is important — moving more will help you do just that. And once your mind is ready to accept change, your body and soul too will.

Though sitting is the core issue, you can always include nutritious foods to help improve your mental wellbeing. Here are a few booster foods for a healthy brain:

- Blueberries: Lower chances of short-term memory loss.

- Whole grains: Energy supply for bloodstream for an alert and supple brain.

- Broccoli: Vitamin K for cognitive abilities.

- Tomatoes: Lycopene (antioxidant) for damage protection of cells during dementia.

- Seeds and nuts: Magnesium to reduce stress, Vitamin E for cognitive decline, zinc for immunity, etc.

Your body is the reality

Becoming a couch potato will get you nowhere. From the outside, all may seem well, but dig deeper and your insides may tell you a different story.

To counteract the physical and mental impacts of sitting down for too long, an hour of physical activity is advisable (moving around and walking will do the trick). Doing so will help you avoid:

- Obesity: The more we sit, the more our body burns carbohydrates instead of fats. The accumulation of these fats leads to obesity, which itself is another slow killer.

- Heart disease: The lack of blood flow causes pooling of blood and eventual clots within the arteries, giving rise to cardiovascular diseases.

- Metabolic syndrome: Being idle for too long will cause your body to store fats instead of burning them, causing your overall metabolic rate to slow down– burning fewer calories in the process.

- Type 2 Diabetes: Sitting for prolonged periods is associated with high blood pressure and blood sugar levels as well as abnormal cholesterol levels. All these are indicators for pre-diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

- Possible forms of cancer: Excessive sitting is linked to the increase of chances of cancer.

• The overall impact on the body internally: Sedentary lifestyles cause small abnormalities within our bodies, ranging from nerve damage to bad posture and a host of other hidden issues.

By challenging our body to resist sitting and encouraging frequent movement we can overcome our mental and emotional barriers. The more you are active the more you will benefit from adequate blood circulation and enjoy visible changes in your mood, body, and health. On the contrary, if you stick to a sluggish sedentary lifestyle, you will suffer the consequences.

Your soul is the truth

Our subconscious is essentially our soul — an entity that helps us differentiate right from wrong — it’s our inner voice. Our subconscious often tells us that sitting for long periods is wrong, but the mind and body do it anyway. If we listen to our inner voice, we can make sustainable changes to our lifestyle, the kind that can improve our lives significantly.

Once the subconscious registers that being active is essential, it will automatically make sure the mind commands the body to become physically active. This will result in you standing up more while making you naturally active.

There are a lot of contributing factors that lead to a sedentary lifestyle, the primary force being technology. But, by creating a sense of balance in your everyday life while tuning into your mind, body, and soul, you can improve your physical as well as mental wellbeing, significantly. It’s time to take a stand.

For further inspiration, read our guide to the lifelong benefits of good posture.