Rock, Walk, or Stand for Better Studying (and Health)

The bad news is that “it’s commonly understood that sitting for prolonged periods comes with a host of negative health effects.” However, the good news is that there are many alternatives to sitting all day while you study!

One option is to study while rocking out in a rocking chair. (Don’t forget we have several outside on the ground floor of the law school!) Rocking in a chair not only burns calories but, according to at least one study, it “stimulates the balance mechanism in the inner ear as the body works to balance itself as the chair rocks.” Also, the rocking motion may even help you learn more efficiently! “According [sic] the Rocking Chair Therapy Research, the motion of rocking can satisfy the needs of kinesthetic learners by allowing them to stay alert and process information.”

Not only can you rock it out, but you can also take walking breaks while studying. One study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus suggests, “that five little walk breaks during the day made test subjects feel less hungry, more energized and happier at the end of the day than if those people didn’t walk at all during the day. The little breaks also proved better than if study participants took one, longer walk at the beginning of the day.” For advice on how long your break should be, see this article that discusses several theories.

Besides rocking and walking, another healthy solution for long study sessions is a standing desk. However, even standing at a standing desk should be in moderation. Experts recommend “splitting your time between standing and sitting, because standing all day can lead to back, knee or foot problems.”

Want to try a standing desk this fall? The library has permanent standing desks along the walls by the periodical section and two portable standing desks for you to try!