The classic "office life" is full of comfort: you sit all day long and the routes to travel are very short. Physical activity is often overlooked, which can cause back and neck problems. Breaking the routine, however, is not that difficult: here are some simple suggestions to make the working day a little more hectic.
Those who work in the office know it well: every day, inevitably, they sit for hours in the same position in front of the screen. During working hours, the only form of physical activity is moving to reach the printer or the bathroom or to pause. Doing little movement, however, can cause muscle tension in the back or the back of the head. But remedying monotony is not an impossible mission: just change some small habit and life in the office will be more dynamic.
Walk more instead of phoning
It is important to stop the sedentary activity often: instead of taking the phone, for example, you can go directly to the colleague using the stairs instead of the elevator. However, for reasons of time, it is not always possible to go to other offices in person. In these cases a good alternative is to call standing instead of sitting, so you change position and break the monotony.
Break stretching in the corridor
To extend the journey to the printer, you can place the machine outside your office. This also allows you to work more safely, especially when there is a great frenzy around you. While going to the printer you can take the opportunity to take a break and do some stretching, so as to stretch your back and stretch your limbs. In addition to this, we must not neglect hydration. Drinking a lot offers a double advantage: not only does it hydrate enough, but it also makes more movement because there is a greater need to go to the toilet.
Change position and reorganize spaces
Those who do not have many opportunities to get away from the screen should at least avoid standing still on the chair and changing position slightly three or four times per hour. In this way, a unilateral overload of the spine is avoided. It is also useful to set up the workstation so as not to have everything at hand: water bottle, perforator, stapler, and a telephone can be placed in different places. Furthermore, if the basket is placed at a certain distance, you are forced to get up to throw away the waste. More tips and brief exercises to do at the desk are available here.
A breath of fresh air
Moving regularly promotes blood circulation of the brain. During the lunch break, it is useful to take a walk to get some fresh air and fill up with energy. Stretching your legs outdoors also helps to counteract vitamin D deficiency: this is especially important in winter, as you stay indoors all day.