Overworked and underproductive, the schlep of sitting too long

MOST times, our bodies know and try to tell us what’s best for us. 

But we get so fixated on things we have artificially elevated to priorities that we train our bodies and brains to forget that self-care is not selfish.

For example, holding in your ‘tinkles’ for too long can lead to issues like urinary tract infections, kidney damage, pain, discomfort, and even future incontinence. In short, it’s not worth the risk! This is why Juliana is my hero.

Juliana peed when she had to and saved herself and her family.

The story goes that in April 1941, the Luftwaffe were dropping incendiary bombs on Britain. One such bomb crashed through the roof of the house where Juliana and her family lived. 

According to reports, Juliana, a Great Dane, instinctively urinated on the device, putting out the fire. In doing so, the peeing pooch prevented their home from being engulfed in a fireball. Now, all because she peed when she had to, get this, Juliana the Great Dane was awarded the Blue Cross medal.

But it’s not only tinkles that are a problem.

I recently learned that because of the way our bodies are designed, we have bones, lungs, muscles, joints, and tendons; this means that we were built to move, and perambulation is the most natural and best thing you can do for your carefully designed machinery.

In fact, sitting for long periods traumatises your body and can lead to several health risks. I know I have written about this before, but it bears repeating. It’s been found that too much sitting causes poor circulation, increasing the risk of blood clots.

Additionally, prolonged sitting is linked to higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It reduces calorie burning and slows metabolism, as well as putting strain on the spine, leading to back pain and poor posture.

Sitting also weakens core and leg muscles, reducing overall mobility, and over time the risks are compounded. And the list goes on. You can do your own research.

I say this because I have been speaking to quite a few of my friends and colleagues and they all seem to be saying the same thing: Since the great pandemic panic of 2020, businesses have suffered financial strain and the workers have been asked to work harder; to put in more hours at the desk, hunched over their keyboards, banging out a symphony of “more work, more effort, more productivity!”

Yet, one day we will realise that sitting for all these hours is destroying our health as well as hampering our productivity. One day, after retirement, we will be paying the price of trying to always “do our best”. But I must emphasise that here I am not speaking about idle, lazy workers who laze around all day anyway.

The Dalai Lama said it so well: “We sacrifice our health in order to make wealth, then we sacrifice our wealth in order to get back our health.” 

Also, more than a century ago, one health reformer spoke about sitting hunched over for extended periods, saying, “The lungs are constantly throwing off impurities, and they need to be constantly supplied with fresh air. Impure air does not afford the necessary supply of oxygen, and the blood passes to the brain and other organs without being vitalized. Hence the necessity of thorough ventilation. To live [and work] in close, ill-ventilated rooms, where the air is dead … weakens the entire system.”

So when one takes a break from your desk, takes a few breaths outside and walks down the road, you are not being rebellious and unproductive, you are actually ensuring that you can give your best when you do sit down again.

All in all, author Robin S Sharma sums it all up rather well when he writes: “When we are young we sacrifice our health for wealth and when we grow old and wise we realize what’s most important – and become willing to sacrifice all our wealth for even one day of good health. 

“You never want to be the richest person in the graveyard, you know.”