Today is a rest day for me. I’m slowly adding running back in and I went to the gym yesterday. I would have liked to do yoga today, but my foot is not quite ready for that. But rest day doesn’t have to mean sitting on my butt all day. I have a ton to get done, but there’s no reason I can’t get in a little movement at the same time.
Here’s how I add a little “workout” to my work day:
1. Plan movement breaks – I try to get up every 15-30 minutes. I might run upstairs and grab a load of laundry and run it down to the basement to start the load. Or I’ll take out the trash. Or maybe vacuum a room (my mom is thinking this one’s unlikely LOL).
2. Use the stairs – My house is three levels, so I try to come up with reasons to go to another level. Heck, sometimes I go up and down the stairs just for the heck of it! This would work well in an office building with a staircase as well.
3. Drop and give me 20 – This might not work if you work in a cubicle, but if you are at home or in a private office, there’s no reason you can’t throw in a few pushups throughout the day. Personally, I’m trying to work up to 100 every other day.
4. Pace – If you don’t have to sit still, don’t! Pace while you are on the phone. Walk around while you are organizing your office. Stand while talking to your co-workers. (I’ve been known to do leg lifts while listening in on a conference call. Shh, don’t tell my boss.)
5. Walk (or run) an errand – Since I work from home part-time, I do a lot of my errands during the day. When I can, I walk. From my house I can easily walk to four grocery stores, a CVS, a bank, a mall, tons of restaurants… OK, urban living does have its perks. Can’t actually walk to someplace? Take a mobile lunch. Walk around your neighborhood. Walk around your building.
6. Add a little balance – I like to try to do tree pose while I’m folding laundry. But, even just standing on one leg with a strong core while you are talking on the phone or filing helps with your balance.
7. Hydrate – OK, so drinking is not actual movement. However, if you are hydrating properly, you WILL need to get up and move. Find the farthest bathroom from where you are working. (This is easy for me as I work in our dining room and we don’t have a bathroom on that level.)
8. Stretch it out – Have you ever noticed yourself slumping forward over your computer? I do this ALL the time. In fact, every time I seem my chiro or get a massage, I get comments about how my shoulders pull forward and how tight I am. Take a few minutes to stretch your arms above your head. Pull your shoulders back. (Heck if you can, sit on the floor and do a few stretches.)
How do you add extra movement to your day? I can always use new ideas.
*And now I have that stupid song stuck in my head.
aaaaaand now it’s stuck in my head as well. :p
Up and down the stairs with laundry. Man, is that ever a good workout!
Great ideas!
I’m am the worst “slumper” ever. I need to place a sharp knife behind me so that when I slump it stabs me! ; )
Great tips. I am stuck at home waiting for the Fed Ex guy to come, so I will have to do some of these:) I had a song stuck in my head yesterday and no matter what I did, it wouldn’t go away! Good luck getting rid of it:)
And mine too!! Thanks for the reminder to work in a little action during the day. And that didn’t sound right, but maybe you could add that one to the list.:)
Every morning I run the school run: the kids are on their bikes, and I run along. It’s a great start of my day, and when I get home I’ve got my workout done!
I have a brand new exercise that I do a few times a day – it’s called chase the puppy. I also do take the puppy to the toilet and that involves two flights of stairs.