We talk a lot about fashion, music and business all of that good stuff here on the HypeGirls blog, but believe it or not, there are quite a few other things in life that should take priority. Tending to your personal health is probably the most overlooked yet important task you aren’t doing. And this goes double for all you hard workers out there who put in long stressful hours trying to run and manage your business – it’s very easy to forget or skip over the daily routine for proper health maintenance. These tasks are very simple, but will make a big difference and will keep you in tip-top shape while on the job.
Take Breaks
If you spend a lot of time working at the computer, you are at high risk for repetitive strain injury (RSI). RSI is a serious issue that can permanently degrade your joints and drastically affect your performance and efficiency. Plus, it will eventually cause a lot of discomfort down the road. So what is the best solution for preventing RSI? Take regular breaks. Like everything in life, moderation is important, and we’re talking about your health here! Something as simple as getting up, stretching, and grabbing a glass of water or coffee from the break room can help reset your body and remind it that there are other positions beyond having your hands-on-the-keyboard.
Stretch
Don’t forget to stretch! Sitting still or even standing on your feet for a long time can cause stiffness and discomfort in your muscles – and the strain starts to happen before you even notice it. Stretching relieves the stiffness from your muscles, releases stress tension and helps your blood flow. It only takes a minute or two to run through some gentle stretches that work your neck, shoulders, back, legs, hands, and wrists. And the good news is you can do them all from your desk, or when take your routine break.
Drink Water
H2O is necessary to stay hydrated and is great for your skin, body and overall health. Our human body always gives us cues when we need fluid, but we don’t always listen or interpret those cues correctly. Keeping a bottle of water at your desk will make it easier for you to hydrate and filter the body throughout the work day. If you are an avid coffee, soda or tea drinkers, try replacing at least one of your regular beverages with a cup of water each day. Trust me you will start to feel better (and possibly lighter) in a just a few weeks’ time.
Sit Right
This is where we are all guilty of not taking care of our body. Your back and posture is not something you want to mess with! If your posture is already bad, establishing good posture will take a lot of discipline, but it is still important that you attempt to correct it. Start by first identifying the incorrect posture and then slowly bring your body into the correct form. When at your desk, sit in an upright, relaxed position, with your back against the back of the chair, shoulders back. It’s important your feet can comfortably touch the ground and your shoulders are completely relaxed. If you are standing, follow the same procedure and try keep your back as straight as possible without straining.
Get Reminders
During the course of the work day, it can be pretty hard to remember to follow these healthy practices. Fortunately, there are a ton of amazing exercise and stretch apps that can help to remind you and keep you on a steady regime. Be sure not to use too many exercise apps at once or you will find yourself too busy responding to the reminders to actually do the exercises!
Good luck using these tips – stay healthy!