Tap your foot, stretch your leg, raise your arm, and bend at your waist. Movement makes you feel better. There are so many excuses for not moving around these days, and certainly they are harming many of us. The more we sit around, the less we want to move. Food therefore, goes in and stays in, piling up into love handles where we didn't think they could exist.

But exercise is such a chore, and it's hard to do when you have to sit at a desk and type all day. Agreed, making exercise part of what you do, while you're doing something else is not the easiest answer, but it is an answer just the same. You can stretch while sitting in your chair. Better yet, you can get out of your chair, reach for the ceiling and then touch your toes. It only takes a minute, so what are you waiting for?

Oh, so you're not quite that brave, and perhaps a little concerned about what people might think if you do it. That's okay. You can take a quick moment right now to flare your elbows out and flap like a chicken. Go on, now. Give your arms a little boost of extra blood flow before anyone even notices what you're doing.

Not going to cut it, huh? Okay, just raise your left knee as high as it will go. Now do the same with your right knee. Back and forth, back and forth, just as if you were marching in a confined space. No one will see. You can keep your legs hidden under the desk.

Not going for it, huh? Well at least get up and go to the restroom or water cooler. Take long strides, overemphasizing the motion of your hips as you walk. Move your shoulders forward and backward, alternating almost as if you wanted to go dancing. Now move your head around, smiling as you wander through the office.

There are lots of little ways to incorporate movement into your daily routine when you really think about it. You have the power of choice at your command. If you live within a mile or so of work, you can ride your bike or walk, especially when the weather is inviting. Instead of going somewhere and sitting down on your break, you can take a walk around the building.

You have not been sentenced to sit in your chair at work and be productive. You have a job, and even if it means you work at a desk all day, you are still very free to move around as necessary. Physical health is often better when our bodies are allowed to move around a bit. So give up the excuses and make it happen. You might even start a new trend at the office, when everyone who took the time to stare, takes the time to move around a little more too.

Learn more about this author, M. J. Joachim.
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