Healthy Office Habits

​The most important thing you can do to help keep your body (and mind) happy and healthy at work is to move. Obviously, you don't have to go to the extreme as pictured above (I was always a little more... daring than most in the office), but doing some stretches, or taking a walk around the office is a good start. Click the link below to read an excellent article on how to incorporate some more movement into your daily routine. I did most of those things while I was working for the government, and it really helped! Read all the way to the end (or skip to the end if you must) there is an example schedule that you can use to program your own movement into your day. Sit-Stand desks are also helpful, as they allow you to transition between sitting and standing while working. Our bodies are meant to move and staying in any one position for hours at a time is not great. 
 
The second part of keeping a healthy, happy body at work is making sure that you are sitting (or standing) properly, with good alignment. For those of you who have had sessions with me, this will be a refresher:
1) Sitting: your knees should be a little lower than your hips. At the most they are the same height. This is to help ensure that your pelvis is the the neutral position, making it easier to sit up tall.
   Standing: have your weight balanced evenly between your two legs, and spread equally out over the "triangle" of the foot. This is the ball of the foot, so think big toe to little toe, and through to the heel. Notice if you feel clenching in knees, glutes, or abs. If you do, something is out of balance
2) Make sure your computer screen is at a comfortable height, so you aren't straining to look up, or down, or forward to see.

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