One of the most noticeable social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is that more people than ever are working from home. Remote work offers many interesting opportunities but also poses important challenges. Chief among them is staying active when you work remotely.
Make Pauses to Stretch
Remote work requires a lot of concentration. You have to take care of your tasks while paying attention to your children, pets, and whatever domestic situation may arise.
Caught in this avalanche of stimuli it’s easy to lose sight of even the most basic self-care measures, like stretching. A good way to include stretching in your routine is by setting a timer (it may be your smartphone, a smartwatch, or an alarm clock) to remind you to get up and stretch every hour or so.
These are some exercises you may consider:
- Shoulder stretch: Grab one of your elbows with the opposite hand and pull towards your chest
- Thigh stretch: Standing straight, lift your foot, grab it, and pull (you can hold a chair or desk if you need extra stability)
- Lower back stretch: Without leaving your chair, bring your thigh toward your chest and pull toward you
Use What You Have
You may not have the time to visit the gym right now, but that doesn’t have to be an obstacle to staying active. There are plenty of exercises that don’t require any equipment beyond your own body weight, for example:
- Jumping jacks
- Push-ups
- Abdominal crunches
- Lunges
- Squats
If this sounds too complicated for you, there are simpler options you can tackle using common objects or taking advantage of everyday situations.
- Walk while you’re on the phone
- Walk up and down stairs
- Clean your home or do maintenance chores
- Keep small weights at hand (you can use household items) and fidget with them while you’re on the phone or while you’re focused on something else
Staying active is one of the most effective productivity hacks you can put into practice. Studies show that investing time on exercise every day, even at a mild level, improves memory as well as our ability to learn—that’s a smart business decision.
About the GRHCC
At the Greater Riverside Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GRHCC), our core mission is supporting small businesses and economic development with advocacy, business referrals, marketing opportunities, training programs, student internships, and scholarships.
To adapt our services to the current situation, we offer virtual events and webinars that leverage technology to facilitate networking and the exchange of useful information. Be sure to check our calendar of events and don’t hesitate to join in; many events are open to both members and to the public as well.
Contact us today by email at info@grhcc.com, telephone (951-965-9115), through our social media accounts, or click here to join and start enjoying the benefits of membership today!