Are you?
In one sense you are. It is great to avoid weather, the time and stress of commuting, and its costs. However, your body might not be so happy with this lifestyle. Getting out in weather, walking to and from your car and interacting with co-workers in a physical sense are all natural and healthy for both your mind and body. Also, it is easier to overeat when we work so close to our refrigerator.
The biggest culprit to our health is our sedentary (sitting) lifestyle. Our spine particularly suffers from prolonged sitting. We are constantly over straining certain soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, and discs) as they fight gravity and then atrophying muscles we do not use. Besides stiffness and pain from these tissues we develop bad posture and experience accelerated joint wear and tear.
A few basic changes in your routine can make a significant difference. First, every 20 minutes get out of your chair and walk for a minute. Second every 30 minutes do 6-10 shoulder rolls and neck movements. Third, for your lunch break go out for a walk where you will get the benefit of exercise and adapt to the season. Look at your “workstation”, is your computer centered to your line of sight both vertically and horizontally, are your forearms supported either by the chair or by the desk and finally can you sit more on the edge of your chair, so you feel the weight on your mid and rear foot?
For many, monthly chiropractic care can be of value to the health of your joints.
In a future blog we will talk about specific posture exercises for the desk worker.
