Office hours are a necessary part of our daily routines. Sitting in an office chair for extended periods of time can become extremely hectic and the complementing fatigue can leave you feeling tired for the string of days to follow. Breathing issues are a common complaint associated with the office going community – sadly these issues adversely affect your productivity and positivity too.
To help you in this respect, we have compiled a list of exercises that can be conveniently performed while seated in the office chair, with minimal effort. Following these tips and taking the time to do these exercises will surely help your body feel better and also add freshness to your perspective thereby permitting you to continue your day in positive spirit. That being said, let us begin!
Deep inhales and exhales are helpful!
Our breathing process is based on the lungs inhaling air and from there oxygen is supplied to the entire body. During stressful times and anxiety-ridden fast-paced regimes, our body subconsciously alters the breathing cycle making it shorter i.e. shallow breathing, which causes tension in the entire system.
A quick exercise you can perform to counter this is to take a moment and monitor your breathing cycle. First, try inhaling through your nose rather than the mouth. Increase the inhaling span by counting it down and keep on increasing it by a second or so. Similarly, exhale properly to make sure any deep-residing stale air exits your system. This makes space for fresh air to enter the system which is actually useful for your body. Continue this exercise for at least a few minutes and you will be surprised to know how effective it is.
Body stretching and posture change are the way to go
Sitting in the same posture for extended hours is bound to produce stress in your body and hinder the supply of oxygen in your system. We often experience this when one of our body parts goes numb after being held in the same posture or following the application of physical pressure for too long. The sensation of pain adds to the strength of factors that worsen the situation making it difficult to focus on your work. A good practice is to take time out to shift your posture. Not just that, push your chair a bit backwards and try to stretch your arms and legs (while making sure you don’t end up being a nuisance for the people sitting behind you). The constriction of blood flow to various parts of your body can affect your efficiency level and attitude. Stretching helps ensure optimal blood flow is achieved while also making your body is less prone to sprains.
Detailed online tutorials are available for stretching exercises that can be performed in restricted spaces, like an office cubicle, so make sure you watch a few as they can be very helpful. If you happen to have a dependable internet connection, with a comprehensive plan like Cox you can even download these tutorials for offline use – and you will have the right guidance walking by your side while on the go! The most important thing is that Cox customer service is also reliable and they help their customers in any way.
Resting your head makes everything better
You might’ve heard it even back in elementary school that closing your eyes and resting your head can offer you pain relief. Well that still holds true. With mounting stress in an office environment and the many multitasking requirements that are to be fulfilled, sometimes all we need is to rest our head to gain composure – also considered a power nap. Take out around 5-10 minutes from your work routine, close your eyes and set your head in a comfortable position. This will offer your eyes much needed rest too, and when the body relaxes, so will your breathing cycles. That being said, proper sleep for 6-8 hours is extremely important for all body functions to run optimally. Make adequate sleep a priority and you will see how the majority of routine things start falling in place.
Visualizing the process could be the key
Experts suggest visualizing various processes can help you achieve tranquillity. This technique is highly recommended for regulation of breathing cycles and anger management. When you are under stress in your office or feel difficulty in breathing, visualize yourself in your ‘happy spot’. You may envision yourself walking barefooted on the soft sands on an island beach, or think of yourself embracing the comfort of your favourite sofa, depending on where you imagine feeling relaxed and happy. Similarly, while in your office cubicle, visualize how the inhaled air goes in to the lungs, provides necessary oxygen, and then exits through exhaling. Doing so will help you relax your mind and body within a matter of minutes.
Self-massaging can help you relax
Massages are very helpful in releasing tension accumulated in joints and muscles. Take a 5-minute break, try to massage your eyebrows and forehead gently at regular intervals while you are still in your office chair. Not just that, grab your shoulder muscles with the opposite hand and gently press to release strain. If you have a little extra time on hand, you can even massage your legs a bit to relieve discomfort that is an active product of sitting in a chair for long-drawn-out hours. These massages, rather minor in nature, will help you relax and smooth out your breathing cycles.
Conducting the above-mentioned exercises can help you regulate your breathing cycles for a more productive day. Not just that, all of us have chores to attend when we get home from our work regimes. It is important we return in the best of health and spirit to ensure our personal life isn’t affected adversely.