Attention writers who seek to be healthier and happier!

• It has been established that excess sitting may lead to physical health problems, but studies show it may harm your mental health as well
• Women who sit more than seven hours per day were found to have a 47 percent higher risk of depression than women who sit four hours or less
• Government workers who spent more than six hours of their workday sitting experienced more psychological distress than those who sat less than three
• Children who habitually spend long hours in front of computer or TV screens experience more mental problems, including poor self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and diminished happiness
• The key to minimizing the effects of sitting is to stand up often, optimally every 15 minutes, and perform a different exercise for 30-60 seconds

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/08/07/prolonged-sitting-depression.aspx?e_cid=20140807Z1_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20140807Z1&et_cid=DM54831&et_rid=613812995

Stretching is also mandatory when sitting for long periods of time.

The coolest factor about all this is that if can go hand in hand with the pomedoro method. By committing to an amount of time, be it 15, 20, or 30 minutes, you can focus on one thing to the exclusion of everything else. It's hard to keep ignoring things long term. Focus is lost. Well set a timer and write for a goal amount of time--then get up and walk around the building. You'll get more done and improve your health at the same time. Don't worry about losing your place. a 2 to 5 minute break to hit the restroom and do a couple jumping jacks will actually increase your focus. 

Another frequent question, what about phone calls to return or checking email, etc. Those things are best done in batches. So many people will grab the phone or shoot off an email with a quest they could ask someone else or google for themselves. Often the answer comes to people all on their own. Pick a time in the morning and another in the afternoon and return phone calls and emails only at those times. If you need to, you can set an auto response on your email that tells people you're busy and will try to get back to them at XX time that day or the next morning. 

A lot of the above was stolen from Tim Ferris in the 4-hour work week. A book I recommend.  

Enjoy!

PS I'm doing a yard sale this Thursday and Friday at my mothers house. I'm going to try to get shed of a ton of stuff. Microwaves, furniture, etc. from blending my life with my wife's when we got married, and items we inherited from my Grandmother who passed away recently. My mother and a family friend will also be joining so contact me for an address and times.