Many of us work - By work I mean we are sitting at a desk or standing for long periods of time. I think that the sitting type of jobs can be the most difficult to withstand overtime. According the Mayo Clinic, sitting type of jobs can cause insomnia, chronic headaches, stress, changes in our hormone levels and decreased blood flow.
Keep Your Body and Mind Calm and KEEP Working....
How can we make sure we are doing right by our body in the process?
- Try a different type of desk. My sister in law recently got a new desk at work that allows her to Sit and Stand. I tested it out and its pretty awesome. Very ergonomically designed, the desk moves smoothly from one position to another. Very very comfortable in both stances of using the computer.
- Move - do some type of exercise - Instead of using the elevator, use the stairs. Do something extra ciricular on the side like yoga or spinning classes. A friend of ours started going to a ninja gym and the moves he is doing now have put him into the best shape of his life. Personally, I like to walk. It clears my mind and also gives me a chance to think and breathe fresh air. During your lunch break ( and do take a lunch break ) take a 30 minute walk if you are able to. Set goals for your exercise and hold yourself accountable each day.
- Sleep EVERY night - Change up your habits that you are doing daily to get better sleep. Maybe you need to stop eating late night snacks or avoid drinking coffee 1/2 hour before bed. Learn the 4-7-8 Yoga breath that will help your body relax to go to sleep.
- Get a New Pillow - Look for a cervical support pillow that will keep your head and neck in the neutral position. If you wake up feeling refreshed, you are going to function better at work. So a good night sleep pays off in many respects. Also make sure your mattress is supporting your body. A saggy mattress can cause a lot of overall pain. A good mattress and pillow are very important. Maybe you need to replace your pillow or mattress. Experts agree that your pillow should be replaced every 18 months and your mattress every 8 years approximately.
- Watch What you are putting into your body - If you are going out with your coworkers everyday for Chinese food or getting take out regularly, you are tasking your body. Some people like to drink a soda while they work. Again, watch what you are putting into your body. When I sit down at my desk, a glass of water sits down with me as well. My son wants to so badly buy a lunch at school, because all the other kids are doing it. But i insist on packing his lunch. I know what ingredients he is eating and the majority of it is not processed or sugar laden. One more point I would like to add, is to drink water through out the day.
- Having a Positive Outlook and Mindset cannot be understated. - Your body's immune system pays the price when we are stressed. You are more likely to get sick. Having strong emotional health is important. Practice breathing exercises, take breaks, disconnect from technology that we tend to keep in our pockets and carry everywhere with us.
Work is not something we can easily eliminate from our daily life. We have to deal with it and make the most of it. While we are working, we should take care of our body and our mind to keep it functioning as optimally as possible. That way, we can keep on working without sick days, pain and suffering. So Keep Calm and Keep on Working....
Source: 6 ways to Revolutionize Your Workday by J.Kramer
Additional Reading:
- Why you Might choose one pillow over another
- How chiropractic can help your nervous system function optimally if you are an Athlete
- Are you Sitting Correctly at Your Desk?
- Having Optimal Neck Posture is not Rocket Science
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