Not only am I sitting present, but I sit two hours each day driving to and from school. I attempt to justify this time spent sitting by listening to a variety of intellectually demanding audiobooks or language programs. However, when factoring in the additional hours spent grading, lesson planning, creating materials, et cetera, there is little justification for the quanity of sitting I do.
The modern polio of sitting is creating an excess of maladies stemming consecutively from inactivity: atrophy (body decay), weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, arterial damage, and a slew of preventable acute and chronic health problems. To say that I would prefer to avoid any and all of the aforementioned maladies is an understatement in the extreme.
Of the fundamental tenants of modern health - movement, diet, social engagement, exercise, mental stimulation, play, etc. - basic movement may be the most foundational. A patient with the healthiest social, mental, dietary habits, but lacking basic movement, will atrophy and accumulate an untold number of health complications. As reported by US News, numerous studies have demonstrated higher rates of health issues, and a significant - 15-40% - higher rate of death within the study period.
I have much more work to do today. My short list includes grading essays, create a quiz, create another quiz, reread the section of "Frankenstein," honors is reading for tomorrow. All of this after a full day of work, most of which was done sitting. So I have a choice. Sit. Or don't. Of course, I will exercise today. I like to exercise at least once a day. Daily fitness keeps my mind sharp. However, exercise only mitigates so much sitting. So again, my choice. I will do some of my after work work standing at my lecturn, but what about the rest? Well, I will have to sit to finish much of it, but at some point, I will force myself to stop, even if I have not completed everything on my list. I am not willing to sacrifice my longitudinal health. I will figure out a way to get it all done without so much vegetable-like sitting.