Erik Peper PhDDo you wait with poised finger ready to click? Does the time pass without having moved? To allow regeneration, muscles need very short breaks frequently, which most of us forget to do. If you are taking your microbreaks every 30 to 60 seconds, you can ignore this message. Otherwise, read on and take ANOTHER MICROBREAK.
How to Take Another Microbreak:
Every 30 to 60 seconds, while working at the keyboard or mouse, drop your
hands to your lap as you exhale and wiggle your shoulders. Let your
shoulders, arms, and hands go limp, after 1-2 seconds, return to your
work.
Train yourself to take micro-breaks whenever you have an interruption such
as:
- Waiting for the web pages downloading
- Thinking what to type next
- When the phone rings
- At the end of a paragraph
- Reading email
- When someone stops by your desk to ask a question
- After entering a column of numbers or a new page of information
Remember, a momentary interruption in muscle tension can make the
difference between discomfort and health. Think about carrying a heavy
object; if you set it down for just a moment, your muscles relax and you
are able to continue carrying it.
Copyright 2003 Erik Peper, Ph.D. and Katherine Hughes Gibney
Dr. Judith Orloff MD
Barry Bittman MD
Jim Strohecker
