The COVID-19 pandemic has made it especially easy for people to spend their days sitting on their beds or the couch. Spending extended periods engaged in a sedentary lifestyle can have a negative impact on your mental health. By living a more active lifestyle, you can have more energy throughout the day and foster a positive outlook as well.
Mental Health Effects of Too Much Sitting
Living a “couch potato” lifestyle can increase your risk of depression. If you are spending your days staring at the TV or your computer screen, this stops you from building an emotional connection with your loved ones.
Instead of engaging with the world intellectually or experiencing nature, binge-watching TV shows can end up being the new daily habit. Multitasking on your computer can also lead to more sitting if you have to answer your work emails, answer text messages, scroll through social media posts, or browse the internet. If you make sitting down for long periods too much of a habit, you may lack the motivation to stand up and go out into the world.
How Too Much Sitting Affects Workers
You may have a job that requires hours of sitting at a desk. One study published by the Association for Psychological Science titled “More Bad News About Sitting: It May Harm Workers’ Mental Health” says that sitting longer than six hours a day at work can increase symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Even if workers were going to the gym when they were done with work, their bodies became too accustomed to sitting at their desks, and they were depleted of energy. No matter what your job entails, find times to keep yourself active.
Small Changes for an Active Lifestyle
It can be hard to go back to an active lifestyle when, for over a year, we have spent our days in bed or sitting in front of the TV. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and run a marathon. It’s all about taking small steps to get there.
You can start by taking a walk around your neighborhood or find a walking trail you can invite your friend to join you on. See if any outdoor events are happening in your area to make you happy. Taking one step outside of your house will increase your motivation and help you form a better mental outlook.
The pandemic has caused a lot of people to live a sedentary lifestyle lying in bed or in front of the TV. Too much sitting can lead to increased risks of anxiety and depression. By taking small steps to be active, you will have a healthier mental outlook. At Alta Loma, we understand the importance of good mental health, and we are here to help you. Our transformative treatment center in Georgetown, Texas, can provide you with individualized therapy, therapeutic recreational activities, strategies for healthy living, and much more. Give us a call at (866) 457-3843 for more information.
