Pssst. Are you sittng at your computer right now? How long have you been sitting there? A couple of minutes, or a couple of hours? Have you moved at all? Sitting still for long periods of time, the way you sit, type and hold the phone, all can have serious effects on your body. Your Muscles and joints need some activity.
And it’s not only carpal tunnel syndrome you should be worried about. Neck and back problems can occur all because of improper sitting and lack of movement.
It’s time to stand up and sit down. That’s right, just stand up and sit down – without using your hands. You will be surprised how challenging it is if you stand up and sit down several times in a row without using your hands for support.
Here are a few other tips, courtesy of Angela Smith,MD, orthopaedic surgeon at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia:
• Inhale deeply and shrug your shoulders, letting them high up to your ears. Hold. Release and drop. Repeat three times.
• Shake your head slowly, yes and no. Ask yourself silly questions to enjoy this little exercise more: “Does My coworker really think that sweater fits?”Move your head up and down, “Yes, yes, yes.” Side to side: “No. No. No.” (Shedding tension is as much mental as physical).
• Grab the seat of your chair to brace yourself and extend your legs straight out in front of you so they are parallel to the floor. Flex and point your toes five times. Release. Repeat.
• Instead of emailing a colleague and copying 25 people who don’t want to be copied anyway, walk over to the colleague you really want to talk to.
• Instead of a lunch meeting at your desk, walk together to a neighborhood sandwich shop. Talk while you walk — it’s more efficient and productive. You’re getting more oxygen to the brain, you have no distractions, and you’re more likely to remember what is said.
