You're sitting at your desk, whether it be at work or home, and you feel completely drained. As if sitting at your computer or even standing for the duration of your work day was equivalent to an intense sweat session at the gym. This happens to me all the time, and I am left feeling lethargic and unmotivated, both in my brain and body. This is especially true in the wintertime, the weather and lack of sunshine can leave you feeling rather sluggish!
The cure to combat this fatigue? (also known as the mid day slump)
GET UP, STRETCH, AND MOVE! whether you want to or not, I promise it works AND it's good for you!
Known as NEAT, Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, a fancy term for the calories burned through non-exercise activities which includes obvious activities such as walking or taking the stairs to simply standing while on the phone as opposed to sitting. Current research at the Mayo Clinic has found that by simply getting off your butt and moving around more, you can burn up to an additional 800 calories a day! Extra calorie burn is great, but the real benefit is that you're saving your life by simply getting up. Studies done by the American Cancer Society produced results that sitting for extended periods of time can shorten your life, even if you exercise! EEK! Scary right? Even more motivation to get off your butt and get moving whenever you can throughout the day! Want more information on this study, here's the actual article from the American Cancer Society and a CNN published article which doesn't have as much science jargon in it.
GET UP and take a few deep breaths with your eyes closed, raising your arms on the inhale and bringing them down on the exhale. Not alone and you feel silly doing this in front of your coworkers or peers? Then try it out the next time you head to the restroom, it's amazing how much of a difference some deep breathing can wake your brain up! Plus, you'll get in some extra movement with your walk to the bathroom! And that's pretty n.e.a.t. right?
Got time and room for a little something extra?
STRETCH It feels so good and it sends blood flow to your muscles and brain, helping your body and brain wake up! When I'm walking up and down the stairs at school, I always do a quick hamstring stretch on my way up if the hallways are empty. AND If you've been sitting at your desk all day, it's important to remember to stretch your shoulder and neck to loosen up your muscles that have tightened up from your desk position.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MOVE as much as you can!
Incorporate any type of movement to break up your constant sitting throughout the day!
Here are some suggestions, but get creative, the possibilities are truly endless and up to you:
- Opt to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator whenever possible.
- Take a quick lap around the office before you head to the break room/ bathroom.
- Use the restroom/water fountain/copier that's further away from your desk
- Park your car further away from your building entrance at work, home, school, grocery store or the mall to get in some extra walking
- Sneak in some squats, whenever, wherever!
- Stand instead of sitting while talking on the phone
- Feeling adventurous? Do some calf raises, leg raises or squats while chatting
- Have a sixty second dance party (come on Grey's Anatomy Fans)
- Warning: this may cause increased happiness and infect those around you with the desire to move ;]
6 Comments
Mary
1/22/2014 08:21:00 am
I sneak into the less used stairwell landing midafternoon and do some yoga and maybe a plank too. 15 minutes later I feel great! I did get caught planking by a coworker. He thought I fell and couldn't get up. His concern didn't break my concentration though! When I was done, I made him take a selfie with me :) LOL
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Mary, that is AWESOME! And too funny that you got "caught". It's funny to use the word caught, as if you were doing something wrong, but I'm guilty as charged for getting caught doing jumping jacks. I was freezing and on planning period, so I thought, I'll just do some jumping jacks to get moving and get warm, WELL, the classroom I was in was attached to another one, and a teacher opened the door, to find me jogging and jumping in place, she and the rest of her co workers had been eating next door and were wondering what all the noise was, all I could do was smile and say I was just trying to get warm. I didn't ask them for a selfie though ;]
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