Wake up your body!

It's not just your mind that needs an energy boost while you work...

When you're struggling with spreadsheets, loads of e-mails, endless phone calls, your mind can do with a break, but, dear readers: don't forget your poor body!
Now, what can you do during office hours, other than have another cup of coffee (again!) and an "energy" (?!) bite?
This may cheer up your mind - for a while - but: when your body is inactive, it signals to your brain it can be idle and conserve energy, so you get sleepy. But moving your body, even if it's just by taking a stroll to get a drink of water, boosts blood flow to your brain and energises you.

We gathered some advice from people who depend and rely on their bodies as much as their minds, as to how to keep active throughout the day.

07.00 am: Time to Stretch & Smile!

When your job involves a lot of sitting around, it is a good idea to start your day with physical activities. This doesn't have to be "running the marathon", but doing a few (yoga) stretches; walk the dog, walk or cycle to work, if possible, and take the stairs instead of the elevator. Try to think positive, and smile, or find someone to have a giggle with. This will wake up your body. Take a look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Promise the person in the mirror that you two are going to have a Great Day!

11.00 am: Re-start the day!

If you sometimes work night-shifts and still have a busy programme in the morning, like in medical professions, it's crucial that you are fully alert. If you start to feel weary, take five minutes to wash your face and eat some fresh fruit te keep your body going, it makes you feel renewed and ready to go on.

2.00 pm: Get active after lunch!

After you've had your lunch, you sometimes feel a bit sluggish, so to avoid afternoon energy slumps, make sure that you get some exercise. Whether it's going to a dance class or taking a 10 minute walk around the block at a fast pace, it means your body doesn't get a chance to slow down and leaves you enough energy to see you through the afternoon. Just changing the energy will work!

3.30 pm

Business woman, wife, and mother of small children?
How do you cope...?
Tip: whilst at work, keep a tennisball under you desk and use it - in between appointments! - to keep the legs active by rolling it around with the soles of your feet. You will soon become "addicted" to this exercise, so be aware of unexpected visitors... or simply keep an extra tennisball and let them join you! A good bond is a super start of good business! This exercise will help to boost your blood circulation, and the legs will feel less heavy at the end of the day. Not all of us have a gym at hand to keep us fit during working hours... every bit of movement is better than being completely inactive.

5 pm: Sit up to attention

Spending a lot of time in front of your computer.. and having a tendency to slouch or hunch over your keyboard... Sitting properly on a straight-backed chair so your whole frame is supported, with your feet on the floor and your heels underneath your knees, really helps. It makes it impossible for the rest of you to slump. You will need to find the right attitude, probably not rigid upright - it might cause the back to tense up, which is exhausting.

Tap into your hidden energy

Of course there are many more alternatives to regain your energy in ridiculousy simple way.

All you need to know is where to find those secret reserves!

There is another way to stay awake at your desk, a very simple one. It is called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and it can do a lot more for you than just keeping you awake. More about this in a next issue!

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 | Posted in: Miscellaneous | Posted by: Georgette Henson

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