Let’s face it. Focusing in class can be hard. Who can blame us if while we sit in class our minds begin to wander, perhaps wondering why we are here, whether or not fettuccine alfredo is for lunch today, or why we didn’t sleep in? Plus, we happen to be sitting in class for what can be hours on end. But have you ever really thought about what happens when you sit down for that long?
Research proves that after approximately 30 minutes of sitting, the body’s metabolism slows down to as much as 90% and the muscles of the lower body start to shut down from lack of use. Our body begins its natural process for sleep, inhibiting us from retaining information. But those are only the short term effects. According to studies by the Harvard Medical School, potential health risks linked to long hours of sitting include obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature death. So when you may complain that these long hours sitting in class are killing you, it may be doing just that.
If that is the case, how do we prevent these negative effects from happening to us? The solution to the problem is simple. Stand up. Research conducted by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health with Texas A&M School of Public Health confirmed that cognition is connected to the creation of new neurons aided by increased regional cerebral blood flow during exercise. More blood flow to the brain has been shown to improve cognitive function. In fact, a pilot study headed by Texas A&M University showed that the participants experienced 7 to 14 percent improvement in their cognitive performance when they studied while standing.
However, caution is advised if you do choose to stand while you are in class or studying. Standing with no additional movement can also prove to be a problem if sustained for an extended period of time. Results from a study published in the journal Ergonomics proved that standing for 2 hours or more at a time not only prolonged discomfort, but also affected reaction time and caused the mental state to deteriorate. The reason it does this is because when you stand you are burning calories.
However, before you assume that standing is all that you need to do to stay in shape, think again. Standing does not replace the need for exercise. According to a research study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, substituting a period of sitting with standing may not affect energy expenditure over small increments of time. Calorie burning-wise, stick to actual exercise and visit our Andreasen Center.
So if improving academically is as simple as standing, why don’t we do it? The answer is simple: we feel awkward. Research conducted by UCLA found that more than half of students thought it socially unacceptable to stand up in the middle of class; nearly two-thirds felt the same about it during smaller discussions. Some may have seen it as distracting, disrespectful to the instructor, or just plain awkward. So if the only thing that is stopping us from better retention rates and cognition skills is fear of social awkwardness, maybe it’s time to change what is deemed to be socially acceptable. UCLA professor Angela Leung said it best: “A cultural change has to take place–that it’s OK to take a stretch break, to stand up during a lecture, to fidget when needed–it’s ‘good’ for health’s sake.”
So I challenge you, oh reader who is probably seated somewhere reading this right now. Get those better grades and cognition skills. Choose a healthier lifestyle for yourself. Remember, big improvements sometimes only take little steps. Encourage your friends and classmates. Discuss this with your teachers. But most importantly, stand up.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.