Active and earning: 6 exciting careers that don’t require sitting at a desk all day

For countless professionals, a typical day at work entails staring at a computer screen for upwards of eight hours or more. Among the vast majority of those workers, all that screen time is spent in a seated position. While there are few feelings better than plopping down on a comfy couch after a long walk or rigorous hike, the multitude of health concerns beginning to emerge in connection with sedentary jobs is a prime example of too much of a good thing. No one wants to be on their feet all day and night, but too much time in a sedentary position isn’t going to do your health any favors either.

Recent years have even seen a number of health organizations and doctors adopt the saying sitting is the new smoking. While comparing the cancerous toxins tied to cigarettes with sitting at a desk all day may sound like a stretch, sitting for extended periods day in and day out is associated with an absolute myriad of health concerns including increased cancer risk (colorectal, ovarian, etc) and cardiovascular emergencies like heart attack and stroke. 

There are plenty more health issues connected with a sedentary lifestyle. When we sit all day, our leg and gluteal muscles slowly but surely waste away and grow weaker over time. Being attached to your office chair will also do a number on your hips, as too much sitting will shorten hip flexors, eventually leading to both hip tightness and pain. Poor posture, meanwhile, which is near ubiquitous among office workers hunched over their keyboards, is a surefire path toward a stiff and painful back, neck, and shoulders. Oh, and did we mention the increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and osteoporosis?

Just in case you still aren’t convinced, consider a study published in the scientific journal JAMA Cardiology that examined over 100,000 people from over 20 countries. Researchers found that spending 6-8 hours seated on a daily basis is associated with a 12-13% higher risk of both heart disease and an early death in general.

There are plenty of additional reasons to consider leaving your cubicle behind in favor of a more active job and career. Tons of office workers cite the mind-numbing monotony of desk jobs as a major drawback, and a sedentary lifestyle has also been extensively linked to higher rates of both depression and anxiety.

The good news is you don’t need a desk job to find professional success. Take a look at 6 exciting career paths that don’t require sitting at a desk all day.

Chef

A career in the kitchen certainly won’t have you sitting down very often. The life of a line cook, sous chef, or head chef isn’t for everyone. Restaurant kitchens are characterized by chaos far more often than calm, but if a fast-paced and ever changing work environment appeals to you, the culinary arts may be worth exploring. A certain level of cooking acumen will no doubt serve you well, but even if you currently feel absolutely lost in the kitchen, there are a number of available cooking courses and certifications that can help even the most hopeless cooks become legitimate chefs. 

Astronomer 

If the mysteries of the cosmos have always fascinated you, embarking on a scientific journey as an astronomer may represent a great opportunity to find both meaningful work and avoid sitting at a desk all day and night. While the day-to-day responsibilities of an astronomer will vary depending on where they work, typical assignments include overseeing observatories, running labs for private aerospace companies, and making night time observations. Typically, astronomers earn both a master’s degree and a PhD before applying for postdoctoral positions.

Notary Public

Notaries are officials appointed by local state governments to serve as witnesses and fact-checkers during the signing of sensitive documents. Notaries work to prevent fraud by checking signees’ identities, ensuring all parties are fully aware of what they are signing, and confirming no coercion or intimidation is taking place. Notaries are also tasked with placing the signer under oath to tell the truth/provide accurate information or risk perjury charges. Wills, property deeds, and background checks are just a few examples of the sensitive materials notaries deal with on a daily basis.

While some notaries remain in a single location, many others travel to meet with customers and conduct their business. Restaurants, coffee shops, residential homes, and libraries are just a few examples of typical places notaries may meet with a customer. Even better, while the exact rules vary by state, notaries can also charge clients for travel expenses.

Real Estate Agent

The life of a real estate agent is all about selling, selling, and selling some more. That means getting out in your local community and meeting people. From running open houses that last hours on end, to setting up signs advertising your services all over town, working in real estate will get you up from your chair and out the door most days.

Flight Attendant 

For those who aren’t satisfied keeping their feet on the ground, the nomadic life of a flight attendant may be just what the career counselor ordered. Responsible for the comfort and safety of airline passengers, flight attendants are paid to travel all over the world! Don’t assume you’ll be in airports all the time either; it’s very common for flight attendants to spend an extra day or two in new locations in between flights. Flight attendants don’t need a college degree, but do require extensive training provided by airlines as well as FAA certification.

Environmental Scientist 

If you’re interested in protecting our planet, and leaving your desk behind while you’re at it, a career as an environmental scientist could be a great fit. In a nutshell, this job is all about preserving natural environments while also protecting people from any environmental risk factors. For example, if an industrial waste spill is contaminating drinking water and killing off local fish populations, that’s a major ecological danger to both wildlife and humanity. 

While a decent portion of your time will be spent in a lab setting, environmental scientists are often called into “the field” to collect samples for analysis or monitor water quality. Such scientists also meet with stakeholders (businesses, governments, and municipalities) to raise awareness regarding complex ecological issues, present their research at conferences, and put together local outreach programs for the general public.