The human race is busy and hard-working, so we take advantage of the free time that we are granted. It’s easy and enjoyable to come home after a busy day at school or work and sit on the couch to watch your favorite show. We all enjoy this simple form of relaxation, but do we enjoy it too much?
Studies have shown that humans are turning relaxation into laziness, and laziness into early deaths. Humans are meant to be active animals, but technology is changing our ability to do work. Traveling back to our early days, we were forced to hunt and gather our food, causing us to build strength and exert energy. Today, however, we can easily warm a bowl of soup in the microwave with minimal use of our energy. Modern technology has many perks to it, including convenience. However, convenience may also be our worst enemy. It is causing the human race to grow increasingly lazy. We are not even required to get up to turn our television on. Living a sedentary life can be the cause of many illnesses and even early deaths.
Laziness is a cause over 40 diseases such as diabetes, along with mental illnesses like dementia. Not only this but “Whether slim or fat, a person leading a sedentary lifestyle has similar chances of dying young to a smoker” claims BBC News. The authors of a BBC News health article explain that every week spent inactive is equally as harmful to smoking one cigaret pack. Your eyes may widen with shock when seeing these statistics, but they do not have to apply to you. All that is recommended is just 30 minutes of exercise every day for five days per week. That’s under five hours of exercise over the course of seven days.
Given that the human body is designed for physical exertion, workouts come with several benefits. For example, sweating is a natural detox. It releases negative toxins, allowing one’s organs, such as the liver, to become stronger and improve their ability function. Additionally, muscle workouts create bone density, decreasing an individual’s risk for osteoporosis. Physical exertion also lowers one’s chance of being diagnosed with fatal illnesses such as certain cancers and heart disease. To add to this list, an individual who exercises daily receives better sleep and has a sharper mind than someone who does not work out. This allows for a more efficient work ethic and ultimately better school grades, or possibly a job promotion. Although there are several advantages stated above, perhaps the most important asset is a happier well-being. Exercising releases endorphins that create positive feelings. People who exercise are likely happier and healthier than those who do not. This alone is worth the 30 minutes every day spent on physical exertion.
The claim is often made that one does not have the time to work out, but statistics show that the average American adult is using technology for nearly three hours every day, while teens waist nine hours on their device every day. All that you have to do is take a 30-minute break from your phone every day. Make your health and happiness a priority.