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Stand for 10 Minutes Every Hour

Most of us spend way too much time sitting

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 21, 2023

Updated April 21, 2023

A man using a standing computer desk inside a home

DNY59/Getty Images

Quick Win

Standing is a great way to stave off the health hazards associated with sitting for long periods of time.

Try This Today

Make phone calls standing up. Let the phones ring be your signal to stand.
Set a stand up! alarm to remind yourself to get up from your seat.
Enjoy a magazine, newspaper or messages on your phone from a higher countertop and stand while you read. At the office, instead of emailing someone, walk over to that person’s desk.

Why

Taking rock band R.E.M.’s advice to “Stand” is a good idea. “Your feet are going to be on the ground. Your head is there to move you around.” Among nearly 8,000 Black and white adults 45 and older, those who were more sedentary and who spent longer bouts seated or inactive had a higher risk of all-cause mortality over a four-year study period, as reported in 2017 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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