How to exercise and stay healthy while you are at work! Here are 5 ways to exercise at your desk.
Hey friends! Here we are at the end of another year and getting ready for a new year. December is crazy busy, right? It is for me, and I spend a lot of time working in my Etsy shop and doing all the Christmas stuff. It’s super stressful at times and I have to really work hard to make sure and fit in a workout each day. I have high triglycerides and sciatica on my right side, so workouts are vital to my personal health goals. So I decided to research some good ways to work out while in my office and ways to exercise at work. Is it possible to sit at a desk and still exercise? Is there actually desk exercise equipment out there? Well, actually it is! Here are 5 ways to work out at the office.
*This post is sponsored by Responsival. All thoughts and words are my own. This post may contain affiliate links.
5 Ways to Workout at Your Desk
Here’s the easiest ways to get in a workout while you are at your desk!
Under the Desk Exercise Equipment
Did you know there is actually quite a bit of desk exercise equipment out there? Who knew? There’s compact desk ellipticals, folding fitness pedals, and under the desk treadmills that fit under your desk so you can work at your current desk and still get in a work out for the day. The desk treadmills seem to be better for those with desks you can stand at or adjust the height. The desk ellipticals can be used while you sit and work. They are compact enough to fit under your desk while you work. I’m going to try this option out and see if a desk elliptical would help ease my sciatica throughout the day. These would also be great options for travel and for the elderly who need to sit down and exercise.
Office Furniture & Exercise Equipment Combos
Another option for desk exercising while you are at work is get a piece of exercise equipment that doubles as a desk. An example of this would be a desk bike, yoga ball office chair, or a core exerciser. All of these exist! The desk bike is more like a full exercise recumbent bike that has a desk on it so you can work and bike at the same time. The yoga ball office chair is exactly how it sounds–a office stool with a yoga ball on top. The core exerciser could be used in place of the chair at a desk. Get that ab workout in while you type memos! I love know that there are so many options for desk exercise equipment out there!
Weights at Your Desk
So if you don’t want to get a piece of desk workout equipment, you might want to try the easier route of just using simple hand weights at work. You could use the hand weights on your break or while you are talking on the phone. Start with less weight and work up to a heavier weight. There are tons of simple weight workouts online that you can do while you are sitting or taking a break. You may also want to try wearing wrist weights or ankle weights as you work for a little bit each day.
No Equipment Body Weight Desk Workout
Also, don’t forget the value of a good desk workout every few hours of your workday. There are many desk workouts out there, so pick one that is right for you. These workouts often include desk push-ups, squats, jumping jacks, seated flutter kicks, chair dips, toe taps, and “running” while sitting in place. Write up the routine and keep it nearby so you can remember the routine, or put a reminder on a post-it note. Getting the blood flowing even just a little will help your circulation, mood, and overall health.
Desk Stretching
Finally, one the best things you can do for your body is stretch it. Just because you are at work and stuck at a desk, does not mean you cannot get some good stretches in each day. Be sure to try out some simple desk stretches in your chair like neck rolls, shoulder rolls, side stretches, spinal twists, and lower back stretches. Take breaks and stand up every hour and do some standing stretches like touching your toes, leg extensions, and standing crunches.
With a some preparation, a few pieces of equipment, and a little desire we can all be a little more fit while we work. A desk workout may seem like a small thing, but a little bit goes a long way–and when it comes to exercise, doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
I hope this helps you on your journey to exercise and stay healthy and that it will spark some ideas for you to workout at your desk. And if you are looking for more ideas on being healthy, try my post called 5 Tips to Be More Active This Year.
Happy New Year!
–Lisa
