Tricks to Get Exercise At Work

By Randi Morse

Finding time to exercise can be difficult, but experts all agree that it's a vital part of staying healthy. If you work in an office, you may find that you spend the majority of your time sitting at your desk. Our bodies weren't designed to stay at rest for long amounts of time (aside from sleeping), but the good news is that there are a number of ways you can get exercise while you're at work. 

Taking the Stairs

This is an old-school classic: take the stairs. If your office is 20 floors up, the stairs may be a bad option. But an office that is only three or four floors up is definitely walkable. If you're having a difficult time making it up all the stairs, start by getting off the elevator one floor below your office. Gradually your stamina will increase and you'll be able to walk up all of the stairs.

Use the Bathroom

The bathroom is the perfect place to get a little exercise in, especially if you have individual bathrooms and not larger ones with stalls. Head to the bathroom every few hours and do some exercises, like squat jumps, running in place, or jumping jacks. Doing a wall sit is another great option; it helps you to develop your core muscles and can be done without you having to worry about getting sweaty during working hours.

Go Wandering

The most important thing to do is get up and move, so find a reason to get up and move around every few hours. Head to your coworkers cubicles or offices and catch up, and instead of sending an email to relay a message, get up and bring it to your boss face-to-face. This helps you get some movement in and can help build your reputation in the company as well. 

Waiting for the Printer

How many hours of your life have you spent waiting for the printer? The next time you're waiting for 200 pages to print, get in a mini workout. Do some calf raises in which you stand with your feet shoulder-width apart then go up on your tiptoes and slowly lower your heels to the floor. If you can continue to do this the whole time your document is printing, you'll be well on your way to building amazing calves. Once you get used to that, try doing this exercise with only one foot!

Getting exercise while you're at work is all about using your imagination. Think outside the box and you'll find tons of ways you can get your body moving during a long work day.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Carrollwood, Fla.