10 Ways to Excercise At Work

By Olivia Mungal

Many people find it hard to stay active when we are at work for 8-12 hours every day. One of the top excuses we give ourselves is that we just don’t have the time to be active and get fit. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself moving- even at the office. Here are 10 great ways to work out…at work:

Make the Most of Your Commute:

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Regardless of how you come to work, by car, bike, subway, leave early and give yourself a comfortable amount of time to walk an extra block or two or take the scenic route in.

Suck It In:

Tightening your stomach for prolonged periods of time can help you tone up your abs- even while you’re sitting in front of your computer. If you want to burn some calories and develop those abs you have always wanted, sucking in your stomach is the way to go. It is easy to do, and also very discrete.

Take The Stairs:

Instead of taking the elevator up to your office, take the stairs or the scenic route to your office. The more steps you take in a day, the better.

Skip Stairs:

If you want to up the ante, skip a few stairs and only use every other step. This will increase the intensity of your stair climbing and offer you a more effective workout.  This also works to strengthen the muscles in your legs- namely your quads.

Take Fitness Breaks:

Instead of hanging out in the breakroom or having a snack, go for a brisk walk or stretch.

Shake Your Legs:

Unless your coworkers find it distracting, bouncing your legs can help you do anything but sit still.This one is a little strange, but works very well. While you are stationary (in an office chair, at home, etc.), try shaking your legs. This simple and easy excercise will have you burning extra calories every day.

Stand Up Often:

When at all possible, look for opportunities to stand up. Try it at full meetings, while you’re on the phone, or even while eating lunch. Instead of texting or messaging your coworker, go over to talk to them.

Trade In Your Chair:

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Depending on how lax your workplace may be, try trading out your office chair for a yoga ball. Sitting on this all day will cause you to use your core for balance, and you won’t even realize it.

Fitness Equipment:

Try leaving weights or grip balls at your desk. Even if you are trying to be discrete, you can fidgit with them and do some low-impact exercise while at your desk.

Drink Green Tea:

Although black coffee is relatively healthy, most people tend to add things to their coffee, like cream and sugar. A cup won’t hurt, but if you find yourself having more than a cup in the morning, you may want to switch to tea. Especially if you don’t drink enough water during the day, this can be a great substitute for needlessly sugary or caffeinated drinks.

Tell us: How do you stay active at work?