Playing on online poker sites can be an excellent experience for some people. For some people, sitting for a few hours and playing a game in their cultivated community is the highlight of their day. Unfortunately, even though the game may be enjoyable, the process of playing it is not always good for our health. It has become increasingly known that sitting for long periods can harm one’s health. That is why it is becoming increasingly essential people become aware of how long they are sitting. Playing online poker is fun, but it needs to be a managed hobby, or it could lead to further issues.

Below, we will look at ways to lower the chances of falling into the trap of sitting for long hours playing online poker.

What are the health risks of sitting for too long?

Sitting anywhere from 8 to 11 hours daily can put someone in the high-risk category of developing health issues from prolonged sitting. A person who sits for an extended period has an increased risk of developing any of the following health risks:

• Dementia
• Diabetes
• Some forms of cancer
• Heart disease
• Depression
• Weight gain

This list also shows that the side effects of sitting too long have physical and mental ramifications. Society is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of mental health, so it’s essential to maintain this side of your health. This understanding is why, when playing online poker, you must be aware of how long you are playing to ensure you do not suffer the worst consequences. These consequences may not be immediately seen or felt, but consistently sitting for an extended period will increase the chances of these issues occurring.

Tips to avoid long hours of sitting

Playing online poker is a sedentary hobby; there is no way to get around that. It is not unhealthy to play online poker or sit, but time management needs to be understood. Some of the tips to avoid becoming consumed in this sedentary hobby include the following:

• Take a break – Try to take a break after at least every 2 hours. Use this time to get your legs moving, walk, or do some other activity to get the blood flowing again before returning to the game. This break could also be a time to get something to eat. It does not have to be a long break; 10-15 minutes of leg stretching could be sufficient. But it must get done consistently, not simply once in an eight-hour poker game.
• Develop a workout routine – Maintaining a sedentary lifestyle and having no exercise routine is the worst combination. It is crucial to have a workout routine to offset some of the ills from sitting too long. This workout routine could involve weight training or cardio-intensive exercise, but doing this before, after, or amid a break, as previously mentioned. This routine helps avoid the increased health risk of prolonged sitting by giving your body the strength to resist the degradation from prolonged sitting.
• Sitting position – While sitting for long periods is bad, there are ways to position oneself to help offset some of the health issues. These offsets include how you sit, such as having relaxed shoulders, keeping everything close to you, and not bending forward. Also, try moving your arms and legs a little while sitting. Try several different things and see which one gives you the best results.
• Communication – Sitting for long hours with no communication with the outside world can be detrimental to one’s mental health. There are online poker matches where people can communicate with one another, and these types of games should get prioritized. But having a circle of people you can call before or after the game is also important.

Conclusion

With millions of players expected to play on these top 10 online poker sites for 2024, it is a comfortable game where people can play with others, possibly win some money, and have a good time overall. But even with these pros, it does come with its cons, primarily associated with the excess sitting. Sitting, in general, is not an issue, but sitting for long periods is where people encounter problems. When playing online poker, it is vital to be aware of how long they are sitting and take appropriate measures to decrease the amount of time they sit. Take a break and walk; these will help avoid the health issues associated with this sedentary habit. Online poker is fun, but the key is moderation; things in excess can sometimes have unintended health consequences.