Take the break

Office bosses usually frown whenever they find employees getting up from their workstation for a ‘chai’ break, chit-chat break, washroom break or missing from their chair on any other excuse. It was found that those who took active three-minute breaks every half an hour, displayed signs of better metabolic health such as lower fasting blood sugar levels, a stablised sugar level and the amount of beneficial HDL cholesterol also rose in their bloodstreams. The breaks taken in between one’s sedentary desk work can help boost metabolism, lower the chances of putting on more weight if they take a walk, stretch, do some light exercises every half an hour. So indirectly, it can lower the risk of ailments like diabetes and hypertension.” ‘Human body needs movement’ Dr Priyalini Sarkar, senior physiotherapist, Healing Touch Physiotherapy Clinic & Andhra Pradesh state coordinator of Indian Association of Physiotherapy “Our human body needs movement every 30 minutes once. The stiffened body also gets a chance to relax, rejuvenate and carry on the work with more focus.” ‘Standing and working is still better’ Dr Triveni Reddy, internal medicine consultant, Care Hospital “It is absolutely necessary to take short breaks from the computer system at least every hour as it is proven that constantly sitting and staying glued to the computer monitor or books and files lead to musculoskeletal problems, spasms, spondylitis, stiffness of muscles, weaker veins, lower back ache and eye strain.