The secret to surviving WFH
And still deriving optimum health benefits
Your friends might have been claiming to have leisure time during lockdown to pay attention to their health and committing to an exercise routine. But if you are nuts like me, this whole working from home syndrome must have gotten on your nerves, making you work like a dog for 18 hours instead of 9 hours a day.
In a scenario like this, it’s not easy to consistently take out time to run on the treadmill or go for a brisk walk around your block. That’s why I was desperately searching for deskercises or desk workout routines to keep myself fit. With a plethora of them available to choose from, I did a mix and match of 5 exercises to suit my lifestyle and derive optimum health benefits.
1. High knees
Need some cardio boost? Stand up from your desk and attempt to get your knees as high as you possibly can. This exercise is similar to running in one place but you are focusing on bringing your knees high. You can use your hands and tap the palms with your knees to make sure you are doing the exercise correctly, doing 2–3 sets of 20 repetitions makes me feel better.
2. Chair squats
You can do these while you’re on a call, in between meetings or taking a 10 minute break. Stand up from your chair, lower your body back down stopping right before you sit. Keep your weight on your heels to work those glutes, then stand back up again. Repeat 10 or 20 times, as you like.
3. Seated leg raises
This is a core exercise that can be done while you are sitting at your desk. Sit upright in your office chair, straighten up your left leg so that it is parallel to the floor and hold it in place for 10 seconds. Now do the same thing with your right leg. Repeat both legs for 15 repetitions.
4. Desk pushups
This is a great upper body exercise. Place your palms at the edge of your desk about shoulder width apart and move your feet away from the desk until you’re inclined towards it. Slowly lower your chest down towards the desk while breathing in, and then push yourself back up as if you were during a regular pushup. Repeat as many times as you can.
5. Tricep dips
Scoot to the front of the chair with both hands facing forward. Place palms flat on the chair, bend your elbows straight back and lower yourself down several inches keeping your back as close to the chair as possible. Then straighten your arms to rise back to start. Complete 20 repetitions.
Happy WFHing!
