Sitting for long periods of time has been proven to be bad for your health. It can lead to aching hips, sore knees, and posture that is anything but flattering. The unfortunate consequence of desk jobs is that they almost always involve sitting for extended periods of time. However, this doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a life of being plagued by aching hips and knees. There are plenty of ways to adapt your working environment so that it doesn’t have such negative consequences on your physical health. These hacks may not completely eliminate the effects of sitting all day, but they will definitely help minimize them.
Make Your Workspace Comfortable
The first step to dealing with the ill effects of sitting all day is to make your workspace as comfortable as possible. If your seat is too hard or your chair has arms that dig into your sides, you can exacerbate existing back or hip issues. There are a few ways to make your chair more comfortable. If it’s the seat that is causing issues, you could try sitting on a cushion or placing a pillow on top of the seat. If it’s the arms that are at fault, you could cut them off with a pair of scissors or saw them off using a handsaw. If you need to raise or lower your chair, you can use a stool or a box to do so. Alternatively, you can duct tape your chair to the floor if you’re worried about it tipping over.
Hook Up A Standing Desk
One of the most effective ways to combat the negative effects of sitting all day is to convert your desk into a standing desk. This can be done by simply piling up books or boxes, or you can invest in an adjustable standing desk that will let you raise and lower the surface. A standing desk will make you move more often, which will alleviate issues such as muscle soreness, heart disease, and back pain. It may also help you to lose weight as your body will be burning more calories. Because standing all day can put extra pressure on the lower back, you may want to invest in a foot rest. This will mean you aren’t putting all of your weight on one foot at a time. A standing desk may not be for everyone and is definitely not a long-term solution to the health problems associated with sitting all day. However, it can be an effective way to combat them while you’re in the process of looking for a job that doesn’t involve sitting down all day.
Install An Ergonomic Chair Or Foot Rest
An ergonomic chair is designed to ensure that you are sitting correctly. This will help to alleviate back and hip pain and will also improve both your posture and your circulation. An ergonomic foot rest can help to prevent you from over-extending your knees when you are seated. This can cause aching in the joint, swelling, and a higher risk of developing knee pain. If you don’t have the budget for an ergonomic chair, you can still use a foot rest to prevent knee strain. Simply place it underneath one foot at a time to take the pressure off your knees. If you already have a chair that you like, you may be able to retrofit it with ergonomic features. This can be done by purchasing some cheap accessories and finding a way to attach them to your chair. For example, a foot rest can be created by placing a wedge-shaped pillow or folded blanket under one foot at a time.
Make Sure You’re Exercising Often
Exercising regularly can help to alleviate the negative effects of sitting all day. It may not completely eliminate the back pain, but it will definitely help to reduce the severity of it. It may also help with any issues that arise with your joints. Exercising can be done a number of different ways. You could invest in a treadmill desk and treadmill, or you could take advantage of the fact that walking is free. Walking is a great exercise that doesn’t require any special equipment or a gym membership. Exercising can come in many different forms, such as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or using an elliptical machine. You can also try yoga or pilates, which are both excellent ways to strengthen and stretch the muscles.
Change The Position Of Your Desk And Chair
If you have a traditional desk, you could try to change the position of the desk and chair so that they are not both facing the same way. If your chair has wheels, you can turn both the desk and the chair so that they are not facing the same way. This will mean that you are twisting your body to look in one direction rather than turning your head. This will help to alleviate back pain and will also improve your circulation. You can also try rotating your chair so that the back of it faces the wall. This will give your back a break and will allow you to focus on the task at hand rather than worrying about back pain.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Blue light is a type of high-energy visible light that is commonly emitted from electronic devices. This includes laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Blue light can interrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and melatonin production, which can cause sleep issues. If you are working a night shift or have to work long hours behind a computer screen, you may find it difficult to fall asleep at a reasonable time. Blue light can also be harmful to your eyes, especially if they are attached to a computer screen for long periods of time. Blue light blocking glasses are designed to filter out harmful blue light. They are a great tool to help you avoid eye strain and to aid with sleep issues. They come in a number of different styles, including normal glasses and clip-ons that can be attached to ordinary glasses. Different brands will filter out different amounts of blue light, so it’s worth trying a few different pairs before deciding on one to purchase.
Disconnect From Work During Meals
Meals are a time to disconnect from work, rest, and relax. Instead of taking advantage of this time to recharge your batteries, you could be stressing yourself out even more by keeping your laptop nearby. Instead of sitting at your desk during every meal break, try to find a place away from your laptop where you can relax and recharge. If you keep working at your desk, you could exacerbate existing issues, such as back pain. If you have to use a computer during your break, try to avoid typing as much as possible. Instead, use voice-activated software, such as Siri or Google Assistant. This will minimize the amount of time you spend using the computer.
Get An Anti-gravity Massage Chair
If your job involves sitting for extended periods of time, you are at a higher risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders, such as back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. A great way to combat this is with an anti-gravity massage chair. This chair has various knobs and levers that can massage your limbs and back. Not only will this chair help to alleviate existing issues, but it will also make you less likely to develop them in the first place. A massage chair is a great investment and will make your working day much more enjoyable. You can even program different chairs for different people, so that everybody gets the massage that they need.
Sitting for long periods of time has been proven to be bad for your health. It can lead to aching hips, sore knees, and a posture that is anything but flattering. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to adapt your working environment so that it doesn’t have such negative consequences on your physical health. From retrofitting your chair with ergonomic features to getting an anti-gravity massage chair, there are plenty of hacks you can use to combat the negative effects of sitting all day.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings