Our Tips to Stay Healthy While Working at a Desk All Day!

Written by: Tony Perez

Sitting at a desk, especially for 5 days or more a week, can put a toll on your body. It can leave you feeling strained and fatigued at the end of the day. Give some of these tips a try and get yourself feeling right!

Take breaks! Giving yourself a quick 5 minute break every hour or so can give your body that re-energizing effect it wants. Walk around your workspace or do some light stretching. GIving your eyes a break from the computer screen will relieve the major strain they feel at the end of the day!

Stretch! Don’t want to leave your workspace? Here are some of our favorite stretches you can do at your desk!

Neck Stretch

Our intern Tony demonstrating a seated neck stretch to help individuals with desk jobs!

• Sit up straight, look to your right side and with your right hand, lightly grab the back of your head and lead your face towards your right armpit. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the left side.  

  Seated Hip Stretch

Our intern Tony demonstrating a seated hip stretch to help individuals with desk jobs!

• Sitting up straight, place your right ankle over your left knee and lean your torso forward. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat with other leg.

  Wrist Stretch

Our intern Tony demonstrating a seated wrist stretch to help individuals with desk jobs!

• Extend your left arm out in front of you with your palm facing up and your fingers pointed to the ceiling. Use your right hand to stretch your left hand’s fingers and palm back toward you as far as comfortable. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on other arm.

  Hamstring Stretch

Our intern Tony demonstrating a seated hamstring stretch to help individuals with desk jobs!

• Seated on the edge of the seat, extend one leg out while keeping the other leg bent, and tilt your torso forward. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on the other leg.

  T-Spine Stretch

Our intern Tony demonstrating a seated t-spine stretch to help individuals with desk jobs!

• Seated, with both arms extended in between your legs, extend your left arm up to the ceiling. Follow your arm with your head. Repeat with right arm.

Foam Roll! It’s a cost effective and transportable piece of equipment that can be used as a self massaging tool for those tight and achy areas of your body. Key areas to roll include upper back, hips, and legs.

Meal Prep! Whether you work from home or at the office, proper nutrition matters! A well balanced breakfast will provide the proper energy needed to jumpstart your day and lead to greater levels of concentration and productivity. Combine that with bringing your own lunch will help from the temptation of ordering takeout or grabbing something from the vending machines.

Water! Our thirst may be mistaken for hunger and can lead to over snacking. Dehydration can also lead to sleepiness, so keep yourself hydrated drinking around 8-10 glasses per day. Bringing a water bottle helps to keep you on track with that goal!