Today, most of our professional lives are spent sitting at a desk. And, as research has shown, this is at a detriment to our health. While there are some offices that have the option of standing desks, most don’t (or aren’t willing to invest). So we’re stuck in the chair that is slowly but surely ruining our good health.
However, there are a few ways to combat office-induced health issues. At AcceleratingCFO, we encourage our CFO consultants to stay active both in and outside of the office. So here are a few of our best secrets for staying healthy on the job…
Sitting in a bad chair can give you serious back problems. But investing in one with decent back support will help you improve your posture and your overall well-being. Though it might be expensive, we think it’s worth it. Especially if you’re in the office day-in and day-out for over eight hours a day.
Interested in a more challenging option? Try a yoga ball. It’ll not only make you sit more upright, but it’ll also engage your core. And who doesn’t want to work on their abs? Hey, if you’re going to be sitting for the majority of the day, it’s in your best interest to get some sort of a workout.
And while we’re on the topic of exercise, there are a few moves that you can do in your office (and you don’t even have to change into gym clothes)! While you may not be able to do high intensity interval training in-between emails, there are some body weight exercises that you can do to shake up your weekday routine. For example, reach your arms out, horizontally from the floor, with your palms facing down. Then circle your arms forward for one minute. Tired? Take a break. Then perform the same movement in the opposite direction.
Want an option for your legs? If you have 30 seconds, find a spare wall and perform a wall sit. To make more of an impact, maintain the position for a minute. With both of these moves, you’ll get the blood flowing, work up a little sweat (but not too much), and get out of that chair.
Although your office may not invest in standing desks, there are a couple of tasks you can manage standing up. Have a phone call? Stand up. If you have your own office, you can even pace around the room and record the notes on your phone or tablet. You could even try “walking meetings” with your internal teams (i.e. take your team on a stroll around the office, or if the weather is nice, outside).
Work is important. And there are times when you just can’t get up from your desk. But if you make the time to make exercise a priority, you’ll learn to work fitness into your daily routine. So try to incorporate a few of these tips above. Your health is important too. And your body will thank you.
