- Breathe properly – filling the whole of your lungs with air. This requires using your diaphragm muscle located at the base of your lungs, the movement of the diaphragm downwards allows the lungs to be more fully inflated. So if you’re breathing correctly your abdomen or belly area should expand with each breathe in. You’re not breathing correctly if your chest is expanding more than your abdomen. See our page on correct breathing technique for more information.
- What to do in your drink or rest breaks
Rather than having a 10 min coffee break, consider some of the following alternatives:
Look after your brain with some balance exercises:
Use the dura disc
Use the fit ball
Practice walking heel to toe
Have a stretch break
Do some eye exercises
Do some shut eye! Have a 10 min power nap! – it can work wonders in refreshing you for your next work stint.
Gargle
- Drink water – helps you very importantly keep hydrated and also prevents over-snacking.
- Proper ergonomics at work - see our mouse pad for guidelines or get your occupational health and safety (OH& S) representative or manager to advise.
- MOVE! - Movement is crucial to brain function. Less movement = less brain activation.
- Get your joints (spine and other joints) checked to ensure that there is no restriction, degeneration or interference to your nervous system.
- Learning something NEW is positive. The process of thinking, learning, assimilating with your current body of knowledge leads to creation of new nerve connections, improving the interconnectivity of the brain.
- Wear attire that is suitable for the job. Girls, please consider if you really need your 6 inch heels to do your job? Consider the impact of this type of footwear on your posture and health! “High heels may contribute to knee and back problems, disabling injuries in falls, shortened calf muscles, and an awkward, unnatural gait. In time, high heels may cause enough changes to impair function. Most women admit high heels make their feet hurt, but they tolerate the discomfort in order to look taller, stylish, and more professional. In a Gallup Poll, 37 percent of the women surveyed said they would continue to wear high heels, even though they did not think them comfortable." - source: http://www.apma.org/topics/womens.htm
The use of high heeled shoes also increases the pressure on the inside of the knee by 26 percent. It is thought that over time, this increased pressure on the knee due to the wearing of high heal shoes can lead to osteoarthritis.
- Food/Snacks: Carbohydrates can make you sleepy - post prandial slump. A protein snack is more awakening for the brain. If you need a snack, consider eating some nuts. Walnuts are fabulous brain food!
You may also be interested in Dr-Robyn’s webpage on Simple Tips for Healthy Living.
You may also be interested in Dr-Robyn’s webpage on AIDS TO BETTER POSTURE & BALANCE AT WORK and HOME!