Back to Work...

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day"

-Alexander Woollcott

Website: When you find work consuming your life, find some quick and healthy packaged foods-Kraft Mac and cheese is not the only option when you are in a time crunch! http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/best-foods?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-2010_12_14-_-HTML-_-1

One of the many benefits (besides the awesome kids and

joys in giving hope to students others have given up on!!) of being a teacher is Christmas Break, Spring Break and Summer! Unfortunately, the joys of the holidays have come and gone and I am gearing up for life as a teacher tomorrow.

How are your New Years goals? Please, don't be that 25% that don't make it through the first week! You can do it!! One huge excuse for going to the gym is the age-old comment "I have no time". Many people are working longer and harder hours and they make it home in time to eat, shower and sleep before getting up to do it all again.

Well don't lose hope, just because you are stuck in year-end-closing does not mean your fitness needs to fall to the wayside. In fact, doctors say ANY amount of exercise will do. You won't make it to the Olympics this way, but could you work-out at work??

As humans, we were created to move. Our bodies weren't meant to sit for 12 hours-and when you stand up finally you will learn the hard way why! It produces back pain, stiffness, headaches and listlessness (making you less-productive). Do you find yourself fighting for the coveted parking space that is 3 steps from the door? Do you stand up from your desk and walk like a robot out the door because you are so stiff?

Aerobics at your desk (you may want to shut your door for some of these!):

-Find a clock or watch and crank out a minute of jumping jacks

-1 minute of football drills-high knees, fast feet, butt kicks

-Simulate jumping rope for a minute-try variations like hopping on one foot

-At your chair, rapidly pump your arms for 30 seconds then rapidly tap your feet for 30 seconds-repeat 3-5 times

-Find an empty room and walk rapidly around the perimeter a few times

-Do lounges in your office...or down the hallway if you are really comfortable with your co-workers

-Take the stairs-two at a time to really crank up your heart rate. Shoot to get up them at least 5 times throughout your day

Strength at your desk:

-Get in a wall sit while you wait for the copier to finish, a page to load or the fax machine to finally spew out the important document

-Stand on one leg and try to kick your butt with the other

-While sitting, extend one leg straight out, straighten it in front of you, lower it (stopping just short of the floor) and hold for a few seconds. Repeat each leg 15x (this is an easy one to do if you have a cubicle and don't want to risk funny stares!)

-Also for cubicle workers, while seated use your arms to push your body off the chair and slowly lower yourself back down

-Put your arms on your desk, push your body backwards until your head is between your arms and then pull yourself back in. This is a little bit more difficult if you don't have a rolling chair-but it just makes you stronger :)

-Big enough office? Conference room with blinds you can shut? Crank out some push-ups or tricep dips! No one will know the difference!

Stretching at your desk (to avoid that robot-walk):

-Sitting in your chair, extend both arms overhead and reach up. Slowly raise your right higher than left and then switch

-Roll your next to one side and then the other, but don't let it roll bad-it's no good for your neck

-Sit and look to the right while pushing your torso left and then switch both body positions, this is a good one to hold and breathe

-You've worked hard, put your feet up! Roll (or push) your chair back and put one foot up on your desk. Slightly bend forward until you feel the stretch. If you are feeling really great, inhale and on the exhale go a little farther

Use every minute effectively:

-Save that rock-star parking spot for your boss and park farther away. He will be in a better mood and you will get to log the extra steps

-Use your lunch break. Walk the hallways or streets outside your office. Join a gym in the area and go during lunch.

-Don't email your co-workers...use it as an opportunity to get away from your desk and get some human interaction by walking to his office

-Take the stairs, every chance you get

-Try to motivate a co-worker to join in the efforts-or even make it a competition among the office! Who can walk the most number of steps in a day? Who can take the stairs most? A little friendly competition can get people motivated :)

Don't let the stress of work come in between you and a healthy lifestyle. If all you do is stretch during work, you will be more effective, less tense and overall feel better at the end of a hard day! Now, who doesn't want that?

Make 2011 count!

Megan