Life! By Design_ 6 Steps to an Extraordinary You - Laura Morton [82]
7. Stand, Don’t Sit
The human body is designed for movement and activity. Even though we may exercise, many of us sit most of the day, whether at our desk, in the office, or on the couch at home. Remaining sedentary contributes to weight gain, which also increases the risk of disease and sickness.
Hello!
Stand up!
Why not stand while making a business call at work? Look at what has happened to the human body because we go to work and we sit! I created something different in my workspace several years ago which I still practice today: I stand. And most of the people who work for me—whether in sales or client relations—have a stand-up work environment too. My team members tell me they feel better and the days go by faster because they are up, moving, and active. My advice is to look at your physical work environment and ask yourself how you can make it more conducive to standing. Perhaps you can elevate your computer keyboard or desk phone by placing it on top of a couple of boxes? Remove your chair and elevate your desk so it is comfortable and functional while you stand. If your co-workers think it is strange or different, I have two thoughts for you. First, who cares what they think? And second, this is a perfect opportunity to tell them why you’re doing it and set a healthy example.
8. Create Flexibility
The sixth-century B.C. Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu said, “Softness and tenderness are attributes of life, and hardness and stiffness are attributes of death.” If we want to stay fully alive, we must become tender, soft, and flexible. A flexible body and mind is fully alive.
Choosing to improve your physical flexibility will also improve your flexibility in other areas of your life. Rigid things tend to break; when you are limber, you can bend and adapt more easily to everything life throws at you. Whether it is an unexpected catastrophe or a spur-of-the-moment decision, you will be much more able to go with the flow. And your physical health affects the fitness of your mind.
How do you increase your flexibility? By regularly stretching. Spend fifteen minutes every day stretching your legs, lower back, and upper body. It can be as simple as arm circles, toe flexing at your desk, reaching down and touching your knees or toes, or a calf stretch while standing on a curb. If you want to be more energetic, practicing flexibility is a must.
9. Get Outside and Enjoy the Benefits of Sunlight and Fresh Air
Most people spend about 90 percent of their day indoors under artificial lighting while breathing stale air that has been endlessly circulated through heating and air-conditioning systems. If you think this doesn’t have an effect on your body and mind, think again.
There is nothing like being in the great outdoors. Sun is the body’s best source of vitamin D, which helps maintain the normal functioning of your nervous system, increases bone density, and promotes healthy bone growth. It is also essential to the body’s absorption of calcium. Ten to fifteen minutes in the sun without sunscreen generates a day’s worth of vitamin D. So be sure to get out from under any artificial lighting whenever you are able. Even if it is for only a few minutes on a lunch break.
And what would a bright sunny day be without a gentle breeze? “Stale” indoor air contains only positively charged atoms, whereas clean outdoor air is full of both positively and negatively charged atoms, which refresh your cells, improve your lung function, and kill bacteria and viruses in the air. Experiencing the benefits of nature is as easy as stepping out your front door.
10. Breathe
If you aren’t breathing, you can be sure you aren’t doing anything else. The process of simply inhaling and exhaling is more important than you may think. Your lungs take in air to supply your body with oxygen, which is vital for