Have You Heard About “Movement Snacks”?

As humans, we are not meant to be stuck seated at a desk for 7,5 or more hours in a row. We are born to MOVE!

I don’t need to tell you that movement & exercise has many benefits on our health and well-being - you already know that. But what I find super interesting is the amount of movement you actually need to see positive benefits on your well-being!

We know from research that as little as 5 minutes (!!) of movement breaks throughout the day is enough to boost our mood, energy levels & productivity. It’s also enough to improve our blood pressure and blood sugar levels. This is why I really like the concept of “movement snacks.”

Just like we might need to snack on food in between meals, we can also snack on movement. It can be very helpful to break up periods of sittings with 5 minutes of movement, in addition to longer workouts/physical activity scheduled throughout the week.

I first learned about the term “movement snacks” via my fellow Master of Applied Positive alumn Darlene Marshall’s podcast “Better than Fine” a few months ago. I have really enjoyed her modified version of the pomodoro technique to break up periods of work in front of a screen! When doing computer based work, I use a timer and get up from my desk every 25 min to for a 5 min “movement snack”. I repeat this up to 4 times before taking a longer break. And this really helps me stay focused, inspired, and more energized throughout the day.

Here are a few examples of “movement snacks” that I personally enjoy:

✨ Give yourself a restorative stretch break

✨ Dance to music that gives you energy

✨ Walk around the house during phone calls

✨ Do some squats & jumping jacks

✨ Practice standing yoga sun salutations

✨ Take a gentle walk around the block

✨ Do some house chores that involve movement

I definitely need to remind myself to move throughout the day and remember to set my timer for the pomodoro technique so this is as much of a reminder to myself as to anyone else!

What other movement snacks can you think of? I invite you to email or DM me your ideas, and I will add them to the list above!

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