Exercise in (Work)Place

I just got up from my desk to warm up my coffee and take a break from my ever-beckoning computer screen. And, boy, am I stiff, though the day is young.

So it was serendipitous to come across this reminder on Lifehacker to take breaks and do some exercises throughout the day to prevent the aches and strains that can come from many hours on a computer. It's stuff we all know but could use a friendly reminder about now and again.

These How to Exercise While Sitting at Your Computer tips come from lots of sources on wikiHow, and they bear repeating. Check them all out, but here are some I plan to do more often.

• Stand up every half hour. Walk around a few steps, stretch your legs, and give your eyes a break from focusing on your computer screen.

• Roll your head slowly from side to side a few times periodically.

• Stretch your arms, legs, neck, and torso while sitting. This will help prevent you from feeling stiff.

• Sit properly in a good chair designed for desk work. Your back should be straight, and your head and eyes should be looking directly at your monitor. Your wrists should not be bent.

• Take care of your eyes. Follow the 20-20-20 rule espoused by eye doctors: For every 20 minutes spent focusing on your computer screen, spend 20 seconds focusing on something 20 feet away.

• Roll your wrists regularly and stretch your hands to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome if you type a lot.

• Throughout the day, contract your abdominal and gluteal muscles, and hold them for a few seconds, then release.

Of course, none of this replaces real honest-to-goodness exercise, but it can help keep us looser and fresher while work takes precedence.

I confess I am writing this from my couch, not the most ergonomic place to work, I know. The irony is not lost on me, but sometimes, you need a break from your desk, too.