- We’re built to move. Marc Hamilton, Ph.D., who studies the effects of sedentary living at the Health and Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Houston, notes that it is common for adults to spend more than nine hours a day being sedentary. The dilemma, as he explains it is:
- Lack of movement affects our brains. Extended periods of inactivity during the workday also compromise mental health and cognitive processes. According to research summarized by Dr. James Levine, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, in his 2009 book, “Move a Little, Lose a Lot,” sitting too long can put our brains into a slumbering state, resulting in slower processing speed and impeded problem-solving capability, learning, and memory retention. Research shows incorporating movement throughout the workday is essential to maximize energy and performance as well as reduce the significant health consequences associated with prolonged periods of inactivity. So, if you want workers at the top of their games mentally and physically, encourage them to get up and move around during working hours.
