Erik Peper PhDOptimize your performance and prevent computer-related injuries with Healthy Computing Tips. Each week we provide hints to help you stay healthier while working.
Does sitting in your chair make you tired? Do you wish you had a better ergonomically designed chair? Even though we think that that appropriate ergonomics will solve the problems, in reality any position-even perfectly ergonomically designed-will lead to discomfort if maintained long enough. Just imagine lying in bed for weeks. After a little while the muscles atrophy. Health is the alternation between rest/support and movement. Enhance your energy and health when you Take a Walk.
How to take a walk:
When you walk – especially when you swing your arms and vigorously push off with the balls of the feet -you invigorate you body. The alternating movement of legs and arms allows the back to dynamically move and muscles to tighten and relax with every step, squeezing the lymph fluids and venous blood out of the muscle tissue (tightening muscles) and allows blood to bring rejuvenation (relaxing muscles) creating a healthy circulatory pattern.
Take every opportunity to take a walk:
- Park farther away from work so you can have a 10 or 15 minute walk to your office.
- Take a 10 minute constitutional walk with your co-workers during breaks and after lunch.
- Walk up the stairs and around the building when meeting a co-worker.
- Get a breath of fresh air as you walk outside and take a five minute break from the computer.
After walking ask yourself:
- How is my energy level?
- How is my mood?
Universally, you will experience an increase in energy level and positive mood after walking.
