Are you stuck sitting behind a computer every day at work? Sitting all day can be very hard on your body. Not to mention the sitting we do on the drive to work and the sitting we do at home watching TV or eating a meal. A study conducted by Ball State University found that the average American adult spends more than 8 hours a day sitting and looking at some sort of screen, be it a TV, computer, iPad or smart phone. If you have to sit in front of a computer all day for work, here are a few easy things you can do to ease the ill effects.
1. The first thing you can do is spend 10 minutes a day stretching all the major muscle groups of your body. Ask a trainer, yoga instructor or health care practitioner for some good stretch recommendations.
2. Try to look away from your computer screen as often as possible. Continually focusing on a computer monitor can lead to dry, fatigued eyes and can make you prone to tension headaches. Focusing on something that is much farther away than the computer screen is best. Also, blinking often can help to keep eyes from becoming dry. Some of my clients who do a lot of computer work get great relief by using rewetting drops a few times a day.
3. Get up and move. Humans were not made to sit all day. Every 30 -60 minutes you should try to stand, stretch or better yet, take a short walk. Many of the new fitness bands (like the Garmin Vivosmart) come with movement reminders.
4. Lastly, since using a computer is part of all our lives, we need to make sure we are doing it ergonomically correct. Make sure your computer screen is at a healthy position. It should be at least 20 inches away from you. The top of the screen should be at eye level and you should sit directly in front of the screen to avoid extra stress in your neck and shoulders.
Life in the 21st century requires many of us to sit behind a computer for work. Following these four steps will help to relieve tension and fatigue and ultimately keep you healthier!
Dr. Tina Paul, BCND, Traditional Naturopath, Vibrant Living Wellness Center, 144 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, (626) 470-7711 or visit www.vibrantlivingwc.com.
