Work at Home and Still Stay Fit

A Home Business Article Contributed by Alina Sandor

Work at Home Blahs

Working at home can make you feel lethargic.Being at home can let a work-a-holic sit for hours without any break. No more running to the copy room or the break room for coffee as an excuse to stretch your legs. No mandatory lunch breaks. Just endless sitting in front of the computer, getting thicker in the middle in the mean time.

How do you combat this? It's not easy, but it can be done.

Work at Home Rules to Follow

You need to be strict with yourself about being more active when working at home. Create rules that must be followed every day. This is your health we're talking about, so this no time to go easy on yourself.

Rule # 1

Take Lunch

You may be tempted to work through lunch, rushing to get that project done, but it is not a good idea. Even if you don't eat lunch, you should take at least thirty minuets to take a quick walk. The fresh air will revitalize you, giving you a second wind to finish the rest of the day.

Rule # 2

Get a Break

Every couple of hours you should get up from your desk and move. Even if it is just for five minuets you should do some stretches, maybe jog in place a few seconds, and touch your toes. Getting your blood moving will stimulate your brain, making it work better.

Rule # 3

Stay Hydrated

Just because you don't a have a water cooler to stand around at home doesn't mean you shouldn't stay hydrated. Keep a water bottle at your desk and sip from it. You need to drink 64 oz. or eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day.

Also, just say no to coffee and soda. The caffeine in these drinks will dehydrate you even more.

Studies show that staying well hydrated staves off headaches.

It also:

-helps maintain blood volume, which maintains your energy.

-improves your concentration and reaction time.

-increases the number of calories you burn during regular daily activities.

-dilutes and disperses medicine, allowing it to act more quickly and effectively, so if you do have a headache it will go away faster if you drink enough water.

-prevents the stomach distress concentrated medicines can cause.

-helps your body reduce fat deposits.

Exercises for the Work at Home Set

There are also some simple exercises you can do while sitting at your desk that can get the blood pumping.

Think about buying a yoga ball to use instead of a desk chair. Sitting on a yoga ball forces you to use muscles while sitting, which is called "active sitting".

Or, while sitting in your desk chair, raise your arms into the air, clasping your fingers, and slowly push upwards. This motion will stretch out your shoulders, fingers, and arms.

Next, sit on the very edge of your chair and roll back and forth using only your knees. This will get the blood circulating in your legs.

Now, put your hands on your shoulders and slowly rotate from the waist, stretching out the tension in that area.