Stretch While You Work

Keyboard.  Computer screen.  Phone.  Shoulder.  OUCH!  Desk jockeys wreak havoc on muscles, bones, and joints every single day.  We sit hunched over; we scrunch up our shoulders; we slouch; we squint; we type too much; we do the neck bend while talking on the phone.  While it may not seem that working at a desk makes demands on our bodies, the many stressors of desk work take a toll.

A great way to combat those little bad habits is to take short, frequent stretch breaks throughout the day.  WebMD put together a list of 12 simple exercises you can do at your desk.  Here are our favorites:

• Substitute your desk chair for an exercise ball.  You'll be forced to sit up straight, and you strengthen your core muscles while you work.
• Keep those hands, fingers. and wrists in good working order by extending one arm straight out and using the other hand to gently pull the fingers of the extended arm back toward the body.  Then, cup the fingers on the extended hand so they point toward the body and gently bend the wrist of the extended hand inward with opposite hand.  Switch.
• Stand up frequently.  When you do so, stretch both arms above your head and and gently arch your back.
• Torso twist in your chair (or on your exercise ball) by keeping hips forward and twisting your upper body to the right, then the left.
• Walk to talk rather than email co-workers when possible.  Not only do you get a break from the desk, you get a bit of exercise as well.  

These simple tips make a world of difference to your body, your brain, and your productivity.  Stretch on!

Written by Heather Doering,