With more people getting vaccinated, life seems to be transitioning to the new normal. This includes how people perform their work nowadays. Companies are shifting to the remote work setup, and experts believe it is here to stay.
According to the Glassdoor Economic Survey released in August, the job searches for remote job opportunities increased 360% from June 2019 to June 2021.
This shows how people would want to choose to work remotely. This led experts to believe that the hybrid setup could be the new norm at work. In this setup, some employees work remotely, while others work from a central workstation.
Do You Meet The Required Hours Of Physical Activity Per Week?
While working from home is more convenient and safe, it also has its disadvantages. One of these is reduced physical activity. In a work-from-home setup, you wake up at home, walk not more than steps, and voila! You’re right in front of your desk, ready to work. You sit there for a good eight hours, ten hours at most. You take a little walk to the kitchen during lunch or to the toilet for pee breaks.
And that’s it. You move so little, compared to how you used to move around in the office pre-pandemic. And, before you know it, it’s been over a year into the pandemic. It’s been more than a year, and you’ve already lived a sedentary lifestyle.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate physical activity per week for adults 18 to 64 years old. If you prefer intense aerobic activities, the WHO recommends at least 75 to 150 minutes per week. Activities for muscle strength are also recommended.
Physical activities are good for the health. According to the WHO, it prevents cardiovascular diseases. It also decreases the risks of diabetes and cancer. It also reduces the risks of stress, anxiety, and depression. Unfortunately, only one in four adults gets to meet the recommended hours of physical activity. In fact, according to WHO records, at least 1.4 billion adults in the entire world are not as inactive as they should be.
If you spend more time sitting in your chair as you work from home every day, you are more prone to insufficient physical activity. If you experience back pains or neck pains often, this could be because of your lack of movement.
Here are tips to avoid being physically inactive:
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Get a Massage Chair.
Spending a few minutes in a massage chair can help ease your tensed muscles. Thus, it relieves back pains and neck pains. Some massage chairs have massage features for the neck, foot, and hand. Infinity massage chairs have more modern features, such as the 3d roller technology. It also comes with wireless remote and Bluetooth technology.
It’s good to end a long day of work in your massage chair, giving your body the rest that it needs.
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Warm Up Before You Sit On Your Chair And Work.
It would be best to do a short exercise before you sit on your chair for the next eight works. A good 10 to 15 minutes of walking or light jog outside will do good for your physical health. If you can’t go out, you can always watch instructional workout videos at home. You can even do light stretching if you’re not up to hardcore workouts.
Pace yourself and set limits based on your capacity. Don’t push too much. The goal is to warm up your muscles before you start.
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Squeeze In Stretching Exercises Between Work.
If you’ve been sitting long and not standing up from time to time, your muscles tend to get tense. You have to stand up and move around every 30 minutes, if possible. Stretch your arms and feet. Move your hips. If you can take a break and walk a few steps, maybe from your workstation to the kitchen, then that would be better. That way, you also get to give yourself a break from the pressure of work.
It will not only make you feel good. It will also improve your blood circulation. It will also prevent you from getting lower back pains.
You don’t have to be hardcore and do intense workouts to say you are physically active. All you have to do is allow a few minutes of your day to get moving and do light stretching. But, if you are willing to push yourself to your limits, spend at least 15 to 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activities. After all, you’d want to be healthy and live longer, if possible.