Sitting, the new smoking?

If "sitting is the new smoking,” coworking is the cure.

Coworking spaces support the human need for flexibility (physically and financially), variability, and mobility daily.

Once you’ve chosen the coworking destination that’s most convenient, you then have the ability to choose the workspace that best suits your needs. At any given time during the day, as your needs change, a great coworking space will have a variety of options — allowing for plenty of opportunities to take movement breaks.

At Work Station-Cohasset, for example, coworkers often move from one common space to another during the day to get a change of scenery, a new perspective, to follow the sun as it moves around our space, or to be closer to a fellow coworker. Sometimes, they simply want to try out the differently-styled but super-comfy variety of seating we offer in our common areas.

Need to take a call? Pop into a private phone booth, venture outdoors to a picnic table, take a walk around the building, or cross the street to the paved trails that lead to Wompatuck State Park. Spending a little time in nature is sure to inspire and rejuvenate and you’re still getting work done.

Too rainy outside or feel like getting in a more strenuous workout? South Shore Athletic Club is at the other end of the building. Many of our members belong to SSAC and spend their lunch break there. Personally, some of my best ideas come when I’m on the treadmill or elliptical exercising my body and mind.

Hungry for lunch or a midday pick-me-up, grab a smoothie from The Daily Press Juice Bar or a gyro from Olympus Grille and nourish your creativity with healthy food. They are both steps from Work Station and those steps are keeping you from sitting.

Even if you are stuck in your office all day — cramming to meet a deadline — chances are you have a standing desk by Vari so you don't have to spend it sitting down. In fact, it’s so quick and easy to adjust the Vari desks that you might find yourself alternating back and forth multiple times a day — the ability to save your settings makes this a no-brainer.

If you’ve read this far, you might find this blog silly because, let’s be honest, sitting seems harmless enough. But, it is increasingly contributing to health problems associated with weight gain, depression, and low energy. We humans were not designed to be sitting all day. However, traditional work culture has led us to believe that being tethered to a desk is the only way to work and, therefore, to succeed. It also had us commuting in and out of cities and working 9-5 (or longer) every day which, as we learned during the pandemic, is also not conducive to a healthy and happy work/life balance. As increasing numbers of employees embrace flexible work and choose a third space to be their most productive, they should also put their foot down (and stand up) when it comes to sitting all day at a desk.

Workspace is the solution! Whether you’re working in a private office or in the common areas, you will be productive. And, the science shows that you will be even more productive by taking a movement break whenever you need one. So go ahead and enjoy a change of scenery, engage in banter with other members, or simply stand at your desk while you work. And the best part is, you can do all of this while remaining close to home as Workspace is the perfect third space.

On a side note, you may have noticed that we did not include taking a smoking break as a reason to get out of your seat though we acknowledge that some of our members do. Hopefully, they balance each other out. 

For more information and to see the research behind the claim that “sitting is the new smoking”, check out this article.