Are You Doing Your Office Workouts?
OK, I know you’ve been mad at yourself. You do Pilates (whatever the heck that means). You do Jenny Craig. You have a Thigh Master, Ab Master, Butt Master, and Blaster Master. Heck, you’ve had it all, done it all, refused to eat it all, and tried it all. However, for some odd reason, you still ache. You still feel out of breath. You still haven’t lost weight. You still don’t like what you see in the mirror. There are hundreds of gurus who can motivate you, pump you up, and inspire you to get into that dress or go down one belt size. I won’t even begin to compete with them. What I’m trying to do is help you improve your industrial health.
The vast majority of us work in sedentary jobs (jobs where we sit six hours out of an eight hour day) or even a light job (jobs where you’re walking or standing six out of eight hours a day). However, we spend so much time on our jobs that we often forget about our health. So I’m going to give you a few tips that might help you out:
1) Fifteen minutes can make you feel fitter
I know you don’t believe it, but try to get to work about 15 minutes earlier and use it to do a little walking. Nothing major. Just walk. You are going to be there for eight hours anyway, so an extra 15 minutes won’t kill you. Bring your ipod. Listen to some music. Relax and breathe and start your day with the blood pumping through your veins.
2) Get up from that desk
Let’s be real. You could probably sit at your desk for four hours straight and not realize it. And you wonder why your back is killing you. Listen. Set your computer to give you an alarm every 50 to 55 minutes. After that, force yourself to stand up and stretch. I don’t mean stretch like you’re getting out of bed. I mean, actually stretch. Stretch your legs. Stretch your back. Stretch your arms. Trust me. These stretching exercises help.
3) Break your routine. SHOCK your body.
Stop for a moment and look at what you do every day. Your body gets accustomed to doing the same things. So guess what? If you sit every day, that’s what your body is used to doing. Find ways to do the things you used to do differently. If you take the elevator from one floor to the other, use the stairs. If there is a longer path to a place you normally go, take that one from time to time. Force your body to do things it’s not used to doing and you will force your mind to become sharper.
4) Change your diet for the day
I am so sorry to have to tell you this but try to eat something different. I am a loyal follower of the Golden Arches but it’s amazing how your body will respond to a salad or a light sandwich. Try something different and commit to it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to McDonalds’s but try not to go every day.
5) Make it a part of your schedule
Look at your work schedule. You already know what you have to do and what you need to get done. Why don’t you integrate your health into your schedule? Think about it. You will make damn sure that you go downstairs to puff on that cigarette. I’ve seen people who go outside for a smoke when it’s raining outside and the temperature is 22 degrees Farenheit. So why can’t you dedicate yourself to making your health a part of your schedule?
6) It is about your way of life, not your weight!
Remember, it’s not about your weight. Yes, I know you would look cute in that size 6 again. Yes, we know you had washboard abs back in the day. But it’s not about your weight. It’s about your way of life. Look at your family history. Any heart disease? Any obesity? Any high blood pressure? Don’t waste your life away on the working grind. Change your way of life.
Now, if you have a few dollars to invest in a work out machine or a personal trainer, go for it. However, these few little steps can go a long way to making your life a little better.
