If you sit at a desk all day, you probably aren’t too keen on it. Sitting in one spot for a prolonged amount of time is enough to drive anyone crazy. However, beyond making you go a little stir crazy, sitting at a desk all day can actually have some pretty harsh effects on your health and your overall well-being.

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Sitting in the same spot for more than 6 hours a day can increase your risk of heart disease, heighten your risk of cancer, can contribute to weight gain, throw your body out of ailment and can just make you feel like a rat trapped in a cage.

This may be pretty alarming information, and it may make you feel a little panicked. After all, what can you do to combat these damaging side effects of sitting when you have no other choice but to do so?

Before you quit your desk job or start getting yourself worked up, take comfort in knowing that there are ways that you can battle the damaging effects of sitting for prolonged periods of time. It is pretty easy to put these combating efforts into effect.

Stand Up: Once an hour, get up from your chair and stand. Simply standing up to grab some paper from a higher shelf, or standing up to stretch will help to ease the strain that your body is exposed to when you sit for a prolonged period of time.

Take a Walk: Whenever you can, get up walk around a bit. Go get a cup of coffee, take a stroll around your office or your building – if you can, go outside and take a walk while getting some fresh air and sunshine. On your lunch break, pack a pair of comfortable shoes and go for a nice walk outside.  Walking will help to oxygenate your blood and get it flowing, get those muscles moving and just give you something different to look at.

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Squats: Get up and do some squats. The up and down motion will give your muscles a good workout and will help to bend and stretch those muscles that are sitting dormant while you’re working.

Desk Push Ups: Work out those arms while sitting at your desk. Lean over and press your hands onto the edge of your desk and push yourself up and down, simulating a push up. Do a few reps every couple of hours and you’ll get the blood moving and tone up your muscles.

Use the Stairs: Instead of taking an elevator or escalator, use the stairs to get from the floor to your office and vice versa. The act of climbing has wonderful effects your legs, your bottom and on the rest of your body.

Reach for the Sky: Lean back in your chair, put your arms over your head and reach for the sky. Bend to the left, come back to center and then bend to the right. This reaching and bending will get the muscles moving and will help to realign your back.

With some simple techniques, you can minimize the nasty side effects that are caused by sitting too long. Not only will your body feel better, but so will your mind.

TourDeFIT.com® Contributing Blogger:
Felicity Dryer is a freelance writer who currently lives in Southern California. She currently writes for several health blogs. When she isn’t writing she loves to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle.