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Work out at work

It's a well known fact that these days we are working longer and longer hours. You may not be able to avoid spending a lot of your day in the office, but you can certainly make an effort to stay healthy while you’re there. Here are some quick tips that will not only improve your day, but also they will protect your body and mind from long-term damage that can accumulate from those long hours at work.

Get Outdoors

Even if it’s for a quick walk at lunch or a stroll around the building during a break, taking some time to get outside is a very important part of the day. This activity will keep your body from becoming fatigued and will give you a brief change of scenery. It is also an excellent way to make sure you are getting some vitamin D from the sun.

Make Sure You Have a Decent Chair

Ideally, your chair should be ergonomic and adjustable for height, back angle and height, seat angle and have adjustable arms. This will help you to control your posture and will put you at a proper distance from your desk without your having to strain or stretch to reach your computer keyboard. But no matter what your chair, don’t cross your legs and don’t slouch.

Protect Your Eyes

Eyestrain is a major concern among many computer users. Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the term used to describe eye and vision problems linked to extended computer use. Symptoms range from dry, irritated or sore eyes to headaches and blurred vision.

The best way to combat this is to take frequent breaks from looking at your screen. You should look away from your screen and focus on a distant object for at least 20 seconds once an hour. And don’t wait until your eyes are fatigued to start. The idea is to give your eyes enough rest so that they don’t become strained in the first place.

To best protect your eyes your computer monitor should be about an arm’s length away--and be sure there is no glare on your screen that makes you squint to see the words. The monitor should be at eye level or slightly below so that you are looking just slightly down at the screen.

Lighting

The lighting in your office can influence everything from your mood to the glare on your computer screen. If possible, try to have some natural light from a window. If this is not possible, and even if it is, you may want to install some full-spectrum light bulbs.

Correct Your Keyboard Setup

Using a computer involves frequent repetitive movements that can lead to repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. If you type 60 words a minute, you’ll be making 21,600 keystrokes an hour so it’s easy to see how the stress can add up. Symptoms can range from mild stiffness to severe pain. To minimize the risk of such injuries, make sure that your hands and wrists are in a neutral position at the keyboard and try to keep your wrists straight and your elbows at right angles. Also make a point to type lightly. There’s no need to press the keys with much force, and this will reduce the strain on your hands, fingers and wrists.