Sitting down for long periods is not suitable for your health. On the contrary, it can be downright dangerous. Recent studies have shown that sitting for extended periods can lead to several health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and cancer.

The good news is that you can do a few simple things to break up your sitting sessions and improve your health.

How Sitting Affects Your Health

A 2012 study evaluating sitting time and all-cause mortality assessed 200,000 people ages 45 and older and followed them for an average of approximately three years.

Researchers found that almost 7% of all-cause mortality was attributed to sitting. However, they also reported that some participants met the physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Sitting, therefore, is an independent risk factor of mortality.

In other words, even if you exercise, prolonged sitting is an independent risk factor.

So how do you balance work and life that requires you to sit for an extended period? Luckily, science has some answers.

Breaking Up Sitting Sessions

A 2012 randomized controlled trial assessed the risk of prolonged sitting when broken up by activity. It is important to note that we often associate sitting with poor posture; however, sitting is also a resting state for our body, and many negative consequences of sitting are associated with metabolic activity.

This study looked at overweight or obese adults 45-65 and found that 2-minute bouts of light or moderate-intensity walking every 20 minutes reduced overall blood glucose and insulin levels.

Other research supports walking desks or other active workstations to counteract the adverse effects of sitting.

Get Up Often

It is essential to break up sitting sessions with movement. Sitting is a resting state for the body, and “waking it up” regularly is vital. Balancing intermittent activity with productivity can be challenging, so find what works best. This particular study indicated that 2 minutes every 20 minutes was adequate; however, once per hour may be more reasonable for maintaining workflow.

If you work from home, throw laundry in or walk around the block. If you are in the office, take a quick tour up to the second or third floor to use the bathroom rather than the one on your floor.

The important part is that you are consistently getting activity throughout your day.

Get Moving!

Most people know that regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health. However, there are specific benefits that training can provide.

For example, exercise can help to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, type II diabetes, and various types of cancer. Additionally, exercise has been shown to improve mental health by reducing stress levels and improving mood.

And for those already dealing with chronic health conditions, exercise can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Low-impact exercises such as golf, pickleball, and yoga are great additions to life. Maintaining a healthy diet while minimizing inflammation is a fantastic combination for a healthy lifestyle.

There are many reasons to ensure that regular exercise is a part of your healthy lifestyle.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you spend most of your day sitting? How do you balance sitting and activity throughout the day?

Since reading is a great pastime for women our age – and for anyone, really – here’s another list that I was able to complete and review.

Would Everybody Please Stop? Reflections on Life and Other Bad Ideas by Jenny Allen

Continuing my search for funny women authors over 50, I stumbled across Jenny by researching her agent for a client of mine. In her essay called “Canonize Me” she uses her newly discovered spiritual superpowers to right all the wrongs in our lives – like eliminating fat-free half and half, reruns of Two and a Half Men, single-ply toilet tissue, and Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kolb. She made flossing bad for us. You have to love this woman. Enjoy this collection of essays, I did.

I Got Sick and Then I Got Better a play by Jenny Allen

A monologue developed by Allen after her illness with cancer. She was diagnosed with endometrial cancer and underwent a hysterectomy to treat it. Analysis of the tissue from her hysterectomy uncovered stage IIc ovarian cancer.

I know from my aunt’s experience with uterine cancer that many “female problems” present to a physician as heartburn, or bloated feeling, or random pains in the stomach. And by the time they are diagnosed, often a year or more has passed with worthless treatment for the wrong ailment. So it was with Jenny Allen. Makes you cry and maybe laugh. Ladies, please use female doctors!

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo, read by Anne-Maria Nebirge

Crazy, mingled stories of Black women (mostly lesbians, mostly taking place in the UK). At first, I was put-off by the premise all-Black female lesbian theater – the writers, producers, directors, and actors. But by the time I’d had enough of one character, another tangential one is developed and off you go.

I listened to the book in 16 hours on a trip to and from Stratford, ON. Nebirge is a good reader. The frequent change of location and character focus mixed it up just enough, and the resolution was clever. This book won the Booker Prize in 2019.

Where Dogs Bark with Their Tails by Estelle-Sarah Brille

One line of my ancestors is from Versailles, FR. They owned and managed a sugar cane plantation on the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies. In 1848, pushed out by the largest and last of the many slave revolts, they left everything, and boarded a ship for New Orleans.

Speaking only French, they felt welcome in New Orleans, but there was no future for a farmer. So, like many immigrants from the French West Indies, the deLaureal family made their way slowly up the Mississippi and settled in St. Louis.

Papa Dor and Mama Tee purchased land northwest of the city and named their new home Florissant. The original home still stands, and the surrounding suburb bears the name Florissant.

Where Dogs Bark with Their Tails is a generational story of families who intermarry, depend upon siblings and cousins, fight in local riots, and eventually emigrate to the Homeland, France. Well-written. I enjoyed learning more of the contemporary history of Guadeloupe.

The French aren’t a benevolent colonial power, and today, they pretty much ignore their West Indian possessions. Though I got the impression that citizens from the West Indies are treated better than those from North Africa. Just an impression as the book does not deal with French politics. A good read to broaden your horizons.

About My Mother: True Stories of a Horse-Crazy Daughter and Her Baseball-Obsessed Mother by Peggy Rowe

The first of Peggy’s funny books. I call her Peggy because I know she would be a BBF if we were to meet. Heartwarming, easy to read, occasionally laugh-out loud. An excellent gift book for a special mother in your life.

Vacuuming in the Nude and Other Ways to Get Attention by Peggy Rowe

She’s so funny! Here Peggy shows us how to eek a new book out of her previously published stories. They are tied together with her clever narrative, and I didn’t feel anything but pleasure reading this.

 So, there you have it. A list that caters to many tastes.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you recently read a book that made you laugh out loud? Which one was it? What about a thought-provoking read that kept you up at night?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

If you’re behind on trying the latest trendy skincare tools, the upcoming weeks are your opportunity to change that. Amazon has discounted countless products for its Black Friday sale, such as the top-selling Beauty Bar 24k Golden Facial Massager. Considering this is the lowest price we’ve seen it at all year (including Prime Day), we recommend snatching this one up while it’s a on sale for just $11.

The skin-tightening tool is sure to put thoughts of botox on the back burner; the product is built to make your face look younger and fresher without chemicals or irritation. It helps boost elasticity across sagging skin, soften fine lines and wrinkles and relieve any strain or pressure across the face. 

Courtesy of Amazon

Beauty Bar 24k Golden Facial Massager

According to one user, you’ll witness “huge changes” fairly quickly. “I’m 45, fine lines around my jaw, neck and forehead. There’s a deeper crease between my eyes and I’ve had a really bad break out of hormonal acne along my jawline. Well the fine lines are less noticeable, the deep crease is less for sure and my acne is almost 100% gone. In just 4 days. The redness and uneven skin tone is gone. My skin is much tighter and the puffiness under my eyes is gone along with the dark circles. Seriously in 4 days!!”

Even more fans of the product have not held back their praise: “It’s like my facial skin shrunk and pulled back—nothing short of amazing. The new wave of skin care is taking things into your own hands at home and if you’re a do-it-yourself kind of girl, definitely get this one.” 

If you already have your skincare routine down, this tool is the perfect addition to use alongside your go-to serums, oils and lotions. As another reviewer noted, “I have been using this roller along with my usual face cream EVERY DAY twice a day for a month. I have seen a huge difference on my face. My skin is always glowy and my face looks even more slender now. I really have a more [youthful] look.”

Beyond providing anti-aging benefits, reviewers have also commented on its multifaceted functions, including migraine relief, dark circle reduction, sinus drainage and of course just the pure unadulterated pleasure of a de-stressing face massage. 

On top of all of that, its gold exterior and 24k face bar is a pretty cute addition to your makeup bag. The T-shape is designed for 6000 vib/min which users have noted is not too strong to make it uncomfortable for the face. 

Oh and in case you needed any more convincing, Tracee Ellis Ross also swears by massaging tools for tense muscles and early mornings. So the real question is, who wouldn’t want to look like Tracee Ellis Ross? 

Snatch up the Beauty Bar 24k Golden Facial Massager with over 2,000 five-star ratings while it’s 20 percent off following Prime Day. Just make sure you’re signed up for a Prime Membership to take advantage of all these limited-time offers.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Hair growth is no one size fits all formula. There are a few things that can disrupt how long and thick your hair can get—even your scalp care can get in the way. It could even mean something in your genetic makeup is stopping or halting the process. If you’re looking to try a natural hair growth oil, Amazon has a multitude of options for you to check out, including the Life & Pursuits Organic Hair Growth Oil. Plus, it’s still discounted to just $14.

This top-selling Amazon find has been reviewed over 4,000 times and consistently finds itself on the top of buyers’ lists. Preventing hair thinning and nourishing the scalp are just a few of the things this hair treatment does. It’s anti-dandruff and has no parabens, so you can expect no irritation and inflammation.

Courtesy of Life Pursuits.

Life & Pursuits Organic Hair Growth Oil

This organic hair growth oil uses pure ingredients that are cold-pressed so that you get full use of each and every nourishing ingredient. Bhringraj, Hibiscus, Methi, and Neem, the Bhringraj is free from harmful chemicals and stimulates hair growth. This ayurvedic oil can be used as a conditioner as well.

To use this product, you’ll want to gently massage your hair and scalp with the Bhringraj oil and leave it on overnight or before you wash. For best results, use a minimum of two to three times per week—you can expect results in three to four months if you continue to use.

RELATED: These Trendy Electric Toothbrushes Are Down to $25 Each—Alongside Water Flossers & Mouthwash Dispensers For Less

I combed through what some users said and the results are pretty shocking—in a good way! One reviewer boasted that results compare to those of Olaplex and even Rogaine, saying “This is the first serum and oil that has worked to stop my hair from falling out. I have tried other things including shampoos and conditioners, which did a nice job but never stop my hair from falling out, this is the first product which does.”

You can head to Amazon now to grab this hair growth oil now—it’s actually on sale for 28% off, but only if you’re a Prime member. Sign up for an Amazon Prime membership here.