Deskbound? Get Active With Some Deskercise!

We're proud to present this guest blog about staying healthy at your desk, from our new friends over at Stonebridge Offices, who have some lovely serviced office space in Leeds: Let's face it, sitting down at your desk all day often followed by a commute by car, bus or train isn't doing wonders for your health. Linked to back pain, eye strain and obesity, the increase in sedentary lifestyles is not good for the body. If you find yourself chained to your desk with little or no time to stretch your legs during the working day, a few exercises between conference calls can help raise energy levels and aid relaxation. Even if you are a gym bunny by night, keeping active at your desk throughout the day can help.

Here’s what you can do with a few spare minutes and a desk chair, aiming to improve posture to ultimately keep your health in check:

Take A Break

It’s not always possible to get out of the office every lunchtime, but even a ten minute stroll can be beneficial for both body and mind. If you avoid sitting in the same position for more than 40 minutes without taking a break, your productivity levels should see an increase. Get up, walk to the water cooler and have a stretch. Spending more face-to-face contact time with your colleagues can help too. Turn off your email and put an end to calling colleagues within walking distance. Instead, wander down the hall and speak to them directly.

Sit Tight

Even when you aren’t exercising, how you sit at your desk can be influential in reducing back pain. It is important that the chair you are sitting on is supportive and high enough so that your feet are flat on the floor, and your legs are bent at the knees. Try to keep your shoulders back and straighten your back when possible. The monitor should be at eye level, and if you need to look up or down then it’s time to adjust that screen!

Take The Stairs

This is an old classic. You should take the stairs instead of the elevator, but also take the stairs up, down, and up again a few times if you can. This can be especially fun if you work in a big corporate complex. You could always carry a folder under your arm to make it look like your delivering something!

It’s Finally Friday!

Celebrate that Friday feeling, or rejoice at a new client win with some celebratory jumps! Place your feet apart and step back onto your left foot, balancing your weight on the ball of the foot. Next lower yourself down into a lunge position and jump upwards. Change feet and repeat as time allows. If you’d rather not share this with the whole office then make the most of an empty board room for a less obvious approach.

Get Uplifted

If a more discreet approach to ‘deskercise’ is your thing, then a quick and easy toning exercise on your bum can be done anytime, anywhere. Simply squeeze your buttocks for 5-10 seconds, release, then repeat. Done!

The Stapler Curl

If you‘ve ever worked in an office then you’ll know that staplers are highly coveted. Keep yours close to hand and double it up as a dumbbell. Starting at the thighs, bend the elbow and curl the arm up towards the chest, similar to how you would normally do a bicep curl. If your stapler has gone walk about yet again then you could always try using a water bottle.

Magic Carpet Ride

This works your core and arms. Sit in your chair with your legs crossed and your feet on the seat. Place your hands on the armrests and lift yourself off the seat and hold for 20 seconds. Take a rest in between exercises and repeat five times.

Food Is Fuel

A homemade lunch with lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains will help you steer clear of the vending machine while keeping your wallet fat and waistline trim. Above all, just don’t be lazy!

When deadlines loom exercise can quickly be pushed aside or forgotten. Try setting yourself reminders in your calendar to keep on top of your new routine. Combine a number of these techniques and keep yourself regularly hydrated to see an increase in your health and happiness at the workplace!