The American Heart Association is sponsoring National Walking Day to encourage everyone to take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk.
I usually support the American Heart Association through the annual Lawyers Have Heart 10K, and this program makes me even prouder to be a supporter, because it hits me right where I live.
From their website:
These days, adults are spending more time at work than ever before. An unfortunate side effect is that, as a nation, we’re becoming more inactive. This is a problem when you consider that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease!
I’ve been suffering with an achy back lately, and when I told my new massage therapist that I spend about 10 hours a day sitting at my desk a work, her jaw nearly hit the floor. I’m still wearing my Jawbone UP® and have the “idle alarm” set to buzz at me every hour, but I’ve been brushing it off until I “get to a good stopping point,” and then the next thing I know it’s buzzing at me again. 🙁
Tied To Be Fit
One of my goals for April is to stop ignoring that idle alarm and start moving more at work, so National Walking Day comes at a perfect time for me. I registered on the American Heart Association National Walking Day webpage so I could get their toolkit with ideas on how to participate, healthy living tips, healthy living articles, and 4-week walking training plans. I am encouraging my friends at work to join in, and I will take a break to take a walk even if my in box looks like it did last week.
Do you take breaks during your work day to stretch your legs?
Want to participate? Just take a walk break and spread the word with #AHALaceUP
I wish I’d known this before. I would have loved to incorporate it into my programming. I need to make myself take breaks too. Even though I have an active job I still can get stuck at my desk for hours at a time.
I’m horrible about getting up at work. I totally get that ‘I’ll get up at a good stopping point’ and the next thing you know, it’s 2 hours later. I need to get back on my lunch hour walk schedule.
Hrrmmmmm. Does taking a walk to the couch count. It’s overcast outside!
If you’re at work and the couch is at home, then, sure!
Ugh – you need an assistant or 10!!!
Hope that walking and moving a little more helps your back quit aching.
I’m being a bum today – I think the weather extremes lately have my sinuses out of whack and I’ve been trying to get rid of a massive headache all day. I will postpone the walking till tomorrow!!!
Ugh! I hope you feel better. I hate that bowling ball head feeling.
I believe getting outside and breathing in some fresh air always does the body and mind good 🙂
Walking is my favourite 🙂 And THE PERFECT break in the middle of the day!
It really is such a good break. The hardest part is peeling myself away from my desk!
I’m fortunate that my company is so big and I have so many meetings that I tend to have to walk around a lot for work! It’s not an active job or anything, but at least it gets me out of my seat!