Ultimate Multitasking Exercises
By Debra Rodzinak
I am a multi-tasking expert. If I can brush my teeth, make my bed, get dressed, and talk on the phone -- all at the same time -- I’m a happy camper. My time is so limited and valuable, I try to find ways to do more than one thing at the time, as so many of us do. That’s why, when I came across a way to exercise at my computer, they had my full attention.
There are many benefits to exercising at your computer. First, when you sit for prolonged periods of time in front of a computer, back and spine issues can develop. Poor posture, hunching over, and immobility can cause problems with the muscles from the eyes down to the toes.
Exercises
As found on the University of Michigan website, there is a comprehensive list of exercises to do for the neck and shoulders, back, arms, hands and wrists, feet, and eyes. Experts say you should move around once every 10 minutes and get up once per hour for a few minutes.
Back
My favorite exercise is the shoulder squeeze. Hold your arms out in front of you. Bend your arms at the elbows with the thumbs pointed up. Pull the elbows back and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Squeeze tight for a few seconds, then release. Since I tend to hold my stress in my upper back, I try to make sure that I move my back muscles every few minutes.
Hands
Another exercise I do is the finger fan. You simply flex your fingers straight out, spreading them as far apart as possible, then clench your fists tightly for a few seconds and release.
Eyes
A third set of exercises I prefer are for the eyes. The eye roll is fun to do, especially when you have teenagers. Roll your eyes upward to the right, then to the left. Palm eyes consists of taking the palms of the hands, cupping them over the eyes, and blocking the light for a few seconds. Finally, simply looking away from your computer screen at a far off object allows the muscles that focus the eyes while reading to rest.
No matter which exercises you choose to do, check your body for areas that are tight or hurting. Focus your exercises on these areas and don’t forget to include an overall daily exercise regime to your life. Keeping your body in overall good physical condition will help your body when put under the stress of sitting at a computer for long periods of time.