Many of us at CSU—whether faculty, graduate students, postdocs, or staff—spend more than six hours each day seated at desks, in meetings, or in front of screens. Add time spent commuting or relaxing at home, and our bodies are often seated in a sedentary mode most of the day. In her recent guest presentation, Skylar Yu offered an energizing and evidence-based reminder that making space for movement during the workday is good for our health and can also boost our writing productivity and focus.
Skylar, a PhD student in Psychology in Dr. Dan Graham’s Behavioral Medicine Lab, studies sedentary behavior and physical activity, particularly in work environments. Her workshop, “The Sit-less Revolution: Simple Strategies to Get Active in Your Writing Practice and Life,” highlighted the risks of prolonged sitting and offered realistic, evidence-based strategies for weaving movement into the academic workday. Whether through micro-breaks every 30 minutes, walking meetings, or alternating between sitting and standing at a desk, Skylar emphasized that even small shifts can reduce fatigue, improve mood, and support sustained attention during writing sessions.
The folks in the Behavioral Medicine Lab at CSU practice what they teach and research. If you have ever had the opportunity to meet with Skylar’s advisor, you most likely had a walking meeting or, if virtual, Dan walked on his desk treadmill while you talked.
Rather than prescribing rigid workout routines, Skylar encourages writers to “start where they are.” Experiment with movement in ways that feel doable and energizing. From her research with activity-permissive workstations to her personal experience as a doctoral writer, she makes a strong case for integrating movement into daily writing routines to benefit both our minds and bodies.
CSU Writes will be building on Skylar’s advice by incorporating opportunities to “sit less” into the upcoming summer writing retreats. Skylar will return to offer guidance on how we can balance movement with deep work so that writers can find a rhythm that supports our writing productivity and well-being. Whether you are revising a manuscript, drafting a thesis or dissertation, or planning your next research project, moving more may be one of the simplest and most effective ways to keep both your writing and your health on track.