Calorie Burn and Office Jobs

[princesshaleigh]

I work in an office for roughly 8 hours a day and I am looking for suggestions as to how I can stay active while being inside. Open to any suggestions, thank you in advance! 

[PeggyMcLinn]

I also have  a desk job, when my fitbit 'yells' at me to get my 250 steps in for the hour I get up and walk the halls or pace from one end of the office to the other.  Another idea that one of my coworkers suggested was to get one of those bicycle pedal things and put it under the desk

[SunsetRunner]

I have an office job but I'm not "chained" to my desk so I can take few minutes break anytime. Even walking to refill my water bottle or making a coffee is still some sort of activity. But these are peanuts. The real activity is my lunchtime. Instead of eating, I spend my time either running few kilometres or just walking on "recovery" day. I'm planning to sign up for the gym too. Lots of my colleagues use their lunchtime similar way ( we have people running, going to the gym, playing squash, playing tennis, football, attending yoga classes etc. ). I'm not sure if it would be possible in your case but I believe for the office worker the lunchtime is the only slot suitable for an actual activity and the rest of the working day should contain at least minimum of movement ( like those 250+ steps etc. ).

[DanielleinDC]

I also work an office job. I make sure I get up and walk around the floor of the office building once an hour. (I also take the long way back from the restroom.) My organization is split between two floors of the building, and the stairwell has a key pad to use our card keys. Since the ice maker on my floor has been acting up lately, I'll have to go once or twice a day to the floor below to get ice. (I like my drinks cold.) That gets me some steps! I also do a fair amount of running around.

Since I'm a transcriptionist, an under-desk elliptical isn't an option for me.

[MagsOnTheBeach]

I am on the phone a lot in a cubical so when I can't get away, I stand, march in place, do squats, anything to move.  Lately, I have been standing on one leg, it uses different muscles. I try to take my legal 15 minute break 2xs a day to walk, walk at lunch, and take the furthest stairs to use the restroom.  I can usually manage 8,000-10,000 steps in an 8hour day. (I start my day with a short run - so I'm usually at about 6000 steps before I go to the office.)

[Mukluk4]

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@princesshaleigh wrote:

I work in an office for roughly 8 hours a day and I am looking for suggestions as to how I can stay active while being inside. Open to any suggestions, thank you in advance! 

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Run before work

Crossfit at lunchtime

Basketball at night.

 20K+ steps in the bag.

The point is you've got to be creative and want it enough to drive you to it.

[DavidSchneier]

I take smoke breaks, only instead of smoking, I walk. I usually grab 2-3 of these per day and when time permits at lunch, a slightly longer stroll. I also now only take stairs and the longest possible route going anywhere during the day. I find getting to 10k so ridiculously effortless at this point that I can't understand how that was ever a challenge previously.

These days, I'm bummed out if I'm not at least plus 15k each day.

[MarciM · Accepted solution]

There is another similar thread going HERE you might want to read. Similar question and lots of interesting suggestions. I love how creative people are being to get steps in while working.

Now the questions is are we smarter and more creative because we walk, or find ways to walk because we are already smart?

Walking has proven to be particularly effective at boosting a person’s creativity. Why? Because you're increasing blood flow to the brain. Also it reduces stress and anxiety, all of which interfere with our ability to imagine new possibilities. It’s harder to tackle an emerging problem, rethink a presentation or invent a new solution when stressed. Increasing daily movement opens your mind to creative possibilities and allows you to see things in a new way, much like how great ideas can come to you while you are asleep or taking a shower. You’re relaxed and your mind is processing information. 

[GraceX660]

I have this same problem!

I am not able to move around much when I am working due to being so busy and in only a small office! However I do make sure I take a few trips back and forth to the water fountain and will always go for a walk on my 30min lunch break.

I wish I could do more in the day but it is near impossible so I ensure I bring my gym kit and head there straight from work. Make up for the sedentary day.

[SilviaFitbit]

I'm in the same boat. So, what I usually do just as others I stand up to get some water. Also, when I have my lunch time, I walk till the food court and don't take any elevator and when I come to my desk I also take the stairs and don't wait for the elevator. 

The best you can do is to take advantage of the times where you're not working and walk as much as you can. Also, try to get the 250 steps every hour. 

[fmustang1981]

This is an eternal problem for many people. Of course, in the office you have to spend a long time without moving, so I always take a break for a couple of minutes every hour to do a little warm-up. It even helps to be cheerful, as the blood moves faster through the body. I recently visited co working space singapore , and was surprised that they have special places to relax from sedentary work. Some offices had corners where workers could do yoga or work out with weights. It is very important that your boss also thinks about these problems and provides at least something for his employees.

Moderator Edit: Word choice

[JuanJoFitbit]

Hi @fmustang1981, thank you for participating in our Fitbit forums. That's what I started doing after the doctor said that I have a lumbar hernia due to be sitting most of the time at work.

Now I stand up every 20 minutes and walk around the desk in order to stretch the muscles and bones hahaha. I noticed a lot of difference and my back is not hurting that much. It's amazing how some change of bad habits can get your life better.

[PhillyMark]

I get in early, and do a lot of walking before work. Then once an hour I walk all over the building for ten minutes and I walk at lunch. I take a lot of calls in my job, and we are wireless. That is how I get the 10 minutes.