Spending long hours at a desk each day can negatively impact your health, and the effects are significant. As you type, talk, plan, process, budget and so on, it’s all too easy to remain sedentary. You probably are sitting mostly still throughout the day, all the while increasing your risk of suffering from heart disease, diabetes and even cancer, research shows.
There’s a simple way to counter some of these ill effects. It’s also inexpensive and doesn’t cut into work time. Learn how to exercise at your desk — “deskercise,” as it’s called — and once it becomes a habit, you won’t even have to put much thought into it. You really can perform exercises at desk jobs, and they will negate some of the effects of being sedentary. Many of these exercises entail simple movements — sometimes nothing more than tightening certain muscles — and they can be performed at various times throughout the day.
How Deskercise Works
Through the right combination of regularly practiced desk exercises, you can keep your body moving and active, even while working productively at your desk. Some exercises don’t even require you to leave your chair. While you’re working, you can exercise at the desk by squeezing muscles, and stretching body parts in a way that lowers the risk of suffering negative health effects. Increasingly make these exercises a part of your routine, and your productivity at the office will come with the bonus of improved health.
The accompanying infographic outlines five desk exercises to perform in your workplace. Give them a try and see how much better you'll feel.
Guest blogger Joel Vento is President of Sales and Marketing at Concept Seating, producer of 24-hour dispatch chairs and office task chairs for a variety of industries. Vento brings over 20 years of experience to Concept Seating, leading to the creation of several products.