The Happiness Project: Movement As a Cure For Allergies and All-Around Lethargy

I'll be honest. I stumbled into work Monday morning feeling groggy and foggy. Feeling sorry for myself for allergies and a workout-heavy weekend (however self-induced), I slumped into my chair and easily ignored its pleas to use the ergonomic features designed to support healthy posture.

Well, an object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest, but I was not feeling any more "rested" while sitting in my chair. A few moments later, my coworker Angela was on her feet and walking on her treadmill. I followed suit and stood up, perhaps moving more would make me feel more "mobile."

Oddly enough, a few minutes into my research for this post I stumbled upon Gretchen Rubin's blog, where she touched upon a relevant phenomenon. You are probably familiar with Gretchen, she's the author of the famous book The Happiness Project. Her post touched upon one of her "secrets of adulthood," which advises the reader to "burn energy to create energy." Gretchen advises gesturing animatedly while talking on the phone, standing up, and even doing jumping jacks (if no one is looking!). Her bottom line: Act the way you want to feel. Sooner rather than later, your disposition will catch up.

I tested her theory over the past few days, and I would suggest you do the same. Within minutes of standing I felt noticeably more alert, and throughout the day my energy levels remained high as I made an effort to fidget about, walk about the office, get water, and just move more in general. A standing desk will encourage more movement, and you can also try some jumping jacks or push-ups if you're lucky enough to have your own private office! Let us know in the comments below what changes you've noticed since incorporating more movement into your day.

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