Despite this, the average adult still continues to spend 50-70% of their time sitting in front of a computer, sometimes with minimal time away from their screens - and until last year, I was no exception.
Plagued with persistent headaches, I booked an appointment with the doctor. Her diagnosis - spending too many hours a day in front of a computer screen had given me eyestrain.
Fortunately, she explained that the majority of office-related eyesight complaints are temporary, and I could avoid future headaches by taking care of my eyes at work. She suggested that I follow the 20-20-20 rule - every 20 minutes, look away from your screen for 20 seconds, at something that is at least 20ft (7m) away.
Although I was relieved that my headaches didn't have a more sinister cause, I began researching other medical problems associated with desk work - and I was shocked by my findings.
First, I wasn't alone in experiencing eyestrain - different studies have found that between 50 and 90% of people who work with computers experience problems with their eyes. Along with following the advice of my doctor, studies suggested that office workers should:
Along with eyesight, studies have raised concerns about posture at the desk, and the length of time spent sitting down in general. I discovered that my regular visits to the gym would not compensate for spending hours and hours sitting at a desk.
A study by the University of Sydney found that 'prolonged sitting has been shown to disrupt metabolic function', even if you achieve the recommended amount of exercise a week. I needed to change my daily routine, and put far more thought into the way I worked.
Research suggests that it's important to reduce the amount of time spent sitting down. Although difficult, there are a number of ways for office workers to do this:
Health professionals recommend taking 10,000 steps a day. I bought a pedometer, and discovered that my usual bus commute saw me taking around 4,000 steps each day. After experimenting with different bus stops and routes, I've roughly doubled my daily walking distance.
We can reduce the amount of time we spend sitting at a desk, but we can't eliminate it entirely. It's important to maintain good posture when sitting down - failing to do so can lead to a range of health problems.
To prevent unnecessary strain on your muscles and joints, it's recommended to follow these tips:
Try to introduce small, healthy habits into your daily routine - your body will thank you in the future!