5 things that happen to your body when you leave your desk

The best workout to do when you’re in a bad mood On your feet. Yes, stand up right now, and you’ll give yourself an instant health boost. “Research shows that people who sat more than 11 hours a day had a 40% higher risk of dying in the next three years than people who sat less than four hours a day,”

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1. Your brain activates

The second you stand up you engage your calf muscles, which increases your venous return, otherwise known as the rate of blood flow, getting up every 30 minutes, even if it’s just to take a phone call.
This rush of oxygen-rich blood to your brain improves concentration and raises your energy, so standing up is when your best ideas will naturally come.

2. You’re happier

Being surrounded by miserable colleagues is mentally draining. “We are wired, automatically and unconsciously, to mimic and absorb the emotions of others around us,” .

Surround yourself with upbeat people who boost your mood . You can’t necessarily choose who you sit with, but you can stop by a friendly colleague’s desk in the name of work, or chat to a friendly face in the kitchen as the kettle boils.

3. You burn more fat

Standing up burns 50 more calories per hour than sitting down , says a University of Chester study. So every time you walk to a colleague’s desk instead of emailing, or fill up at the water cooler, you’re increasing your daily calorific expenditure. If you’re lucky enough to have a standing desk, you can burn up to 52,000 calories per year while at work, which is the same as running 20 marathons.

4. You sleep better

“Fitting more activity into your day, even just walking for 15 minutes, can improve your sleep quality,” . The cumulative impact of being more active – even if it’s just taking the stairs to a meeting and having a stroll around the block in your lunch break – is even proven to alleviate insomnia, according to a study in the journal Primary Care Companion.

5. Reduce your risk of cancer

Years of sitting down slowly snowballs to increase our risk of six different cancers. Breast and colon cancer are most impacted by sedentary behavior, according to research from the U.S., which suggests chairs could be to blame for over 90,000 cases of every year. The same study also links another 80,000 cases of lung, prostate, endometrial and ovarian cancer to excessive sitting. So every time you leave your desk, you’re taking one small step towards a healthier future.