Cubicle Confinement
Every hour spent in a small, enclosed cubicle can take a huge toll on both your mental and physical health. You might not even realize it in the moment, but your typical 9-5 can be decreasing your focus, worsening your mood, and causing you long-term pain. Being inactive for long and uninterrupted hours can have drastic effects on your well-being. Unfortunately, typical office jobs often have you doing just that. Spending your entire workday in a desk chair with little to no excitement only lengthens your hours and consistently drains your energy. The good news is: there are quick and simple ways to fix these problems (without even leaving your office).
Five Minutes Adds Up
It’s a common misconception that mini workouts will not actually help to improve your fitness. However, research has proven that small bursts of movement have an equally great impact on your well-being. The small exercises you complete during your workday add up, and these can make all the difference on your health in the long run. These are some of the many exercises you can do that fit into any busy workday:
For Posture:
- Chest stretch – Gently push your shoulders back, open up your chest, and clasp your hands behind your back. Get a good stretch in and hold this for fifteen to twenty seconds.
- Shoulder rolls – Sit up straight and roll your shoulders up, back, and then down. Do this five to ten times.
Muscle Strength:
- Desk pushes – Stand up, placing your hands down on your desk. Push down with all your strength, hold for about ten seconds, and then repeat two to three times.
- Calf raises – Stand up, walk behind your chair, and hold the back of it for balance. Raise your heels, hold it, and then return to the ground. You can repeat this fifteen to twenty times.
- Glute squeezes – These can be done while sitting or standing. Squeeze your glute muscles, using all your strength, and hold for ten seconds. You can repeat this two to three times.
Why These Moves Matter
Although these exercises may seem small in the moment, they work to fight fatigue, improve your circulation, and reduce the pain you feel in your body. Having poor posture directly causes weakened muscles, shallow breathing, and spine misalignment. You will find that through conscious effort and improvement, the small action of keeping your feet flat and sitting up straight can have huge benefits. Strength exercises are also equally, if not more important than these exercises. The specific movements previously listed are known as isometrics, which work to build strength that will last a lifetime.
Tiny Breaks for Big Relief
It can be easy to lose track of time when you are dialed in to the task at hand. However, setting a timer for every thirty to sixty minutes will fight off any negative effects from your long workday. Taking this time to practice mindfulness, perform exercises, and take a few extra steps to get water or go to the bathroom can make all the difference. When you return to your work, you will feel comfortable and focused again. All of these strategies can help you take control of your fitness right from your desk chair!
