Is Your Office Too Cold? Try These Circulation-Boosting Exercises to Survive the Freezing Temperatures
A freezing office is the number one employee complaint. But if you are not being able to cope with the arctic conditions in the office, try these desk exercises to boost your blood circulation and warm yourself up.
It is not uncommon to find office peeps in warm jackets and sweaters even when it is 30 degrees outside. Thanks to the blasting office AC. And while most of us resort to a cup of warm tea, some of us like to move around, get our blood flowing and feel a tad bit warmer. Yes, those knee-high compression socks might seem like a good option, but staying active in the confines of your cubicle can really get you through those cold office shifts. So try these easy desktop exercises to get your blood flowing.
1. Chair Dips
Break from that slouching desktop posture and get to the very front edge of your chair. Now place your legs out in front of you and keep your hands on either side of your hips with your fingers pointing towards your desk. Now grasp the edges of the chair with both your hands and use your arm and core to lift your body off the chair. Then lower down so that your rear goes as close to the floor as possible. Push yourself back up and repeat this for fifteen times. Perform three sets of this exercise but ensure that you do it on a steady chair that won't roll.
2. Seated Leg Raises
Sit upright in your office chair and straighten your left leg such that it is parallel to the floor. Hold your leg in this position for around ten seconds and repeat with the right leg. Complete fifteen repetitions on each side and once you build some strength, try adding weights to your legs. You can either loop in your bag or your briefcase while you do those raises. Yoga for the Office: From Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana/Bitilasana) to Pigeon Pose (Kapotasana), Calm Your Muscles at Workplace With These 5 Easy Exercises.
3. Chair Roll
While you are seated in a chair with wheels, at an arm's length from your desk, grasp the edge of the desk with both hands. Then, with your feet slightly off the ground, begin to slowly pull yourself towards the desk, and then push away (with nobody behind you) to complete. Do this for one or two minutes and you will instantly feel much warmer.
4. Overhead Stretch
While you are seated on your chair, clasp your hands together above your head, and extend them upward. On your way down, gently pull one elbow to the opposite side overhead, and then repeat for the other. Do this fifteen times on both the sides and complete two sets. How to Cool Your House Down without Blasting the A/C?
5. Water Bottle Free Weights
Fill your water bottles and try some overhead presses while you are seated on your chair. Using your water bottle as weight, complete three sets of fifteen repetitions each. If you are doing arm curls, complete three sets of twenty repetitions each. 9 Simple Workplace Yoga Poses You Can Do At Your Desk.
Another way to warm up is to tap your feet on the floor under your desk. Increase the speed to get your blood flowing and in no time you will ditch that 'winter' jacket.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 21, 2019 12:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).