As funny as it sounds, breathing is very important. Stress changes breathing patterns, causing shallow rapid breathing, which in turn leads to decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery to our body tissues, therefore we feel tired and tense.
Solution: Stand up, place one hand on your belly, take a slow deep breath and force your belly hand out towards the desk. Slowly breathe out, trying to expel all the air. Bring your belly hand in and flattening your belly. Repeat this process 10 times
Another trouble spot at work is the neck and shoulders. Since we are stuck in front of a computer or in meetings for a great deal of time, our muscles become fatigued and susceptible to damage.
Solution: Start with range of motion; bend your neck forward as far as it can go comfortably, then back as far as it can go comfortably, then side to side as far as it can go comfortably. Repeat 3 times.
Next, sit on one hand and tilt your head away from that side. Gently pull your head further to the side with the opposite hand, as demonstrated in the picture, and hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat for the other side
- With all the computer work also comes wrist pain. Once again, we see muscle fatigue, this time due to the repetitive activities of typing and using the mouse.
Solution: Start again with range of motion; with both hands make wrist circles 10 times in each direction, then with both sides make a fist let it go and shake out your wrists. Do this 10 times.
Stretch out your wrist flexors with one arm straight and your palm facing up. With the other hand grab your fingers and try to bring them toward your body, as demonstrated in the picture below. Hold for 30 seconds, and repeat on the other side.
Now you must do the same for the wrist extensors. This time the wrist being stretched is palm down, but still bring your fingers close to your body with the opposite hand as demonstrated in the picture.
