Health Tips For Busy People: Healthy Diet & Exercise In the Office


Many women's lifestyle magazines frustrate us by providing exercise regimens for work and then adding: "You can do this exercise in your office!" What about those of us who work in a cube or other small space (with no floor space for Pilates-style stretches) that's not very private (do you really want your boss to wander by right when you're doing jumping jacks?). Even if you are cube-confined, you can maintain your health in a cube.

Make A "Health" Drawer

Your filing spaces are your friends. Most cubes have lots of little drawers. Make one of them a "health" drawer. Add a ziplock bag or two with healthy non-perishable snacks in it (maybe dried veggies), a few bags of herbal, non-caffeinated tea (switch over from coffee midday to help you sleep better at night), and a travel-size hand-sanitizing gel for use regularly when there's a cold going around the office (did you know most colds are transmitted through shared objects like doorknobs?). A decorative canvas bag can store an extra pair of athletic shoes in case you can take a 10 minute walk or stretch break over lunch.

Get Blood Back To Your Brain:

Pop goes the weasel. When you sit in a cube in front of a computer or on the phone for hours at a time, gravity pulls your blood towards your feet. It pools in your feet, ankles, and fanny; if you're ever noticed your feet looking puffy towards the end of the day, the puffiness may be a side-effect of having blood spending so much time down there! Our arm and leg muscles function as "pumps" to get blood back to the heart.

While you could just do jumping jacks to get the blood flowing back upwards, there are less noticeable ways to get blood moving: If you've got a shelf in your high in your cube, keep daily useables (paperclips, stapler) there; getting up regularly will remind you to stretch. While standing lift your legs up at the knee, one at a time, to help get blood flowing. One enterprising woman kept a postcard pinned up towards the very top of her cube wall - and kept an ever-growing collection of postcards that she exchanged every day in the afternoon. The new postcard each day perked her up, and it gave her a reminder to get up and stretch several times a day.

Muscular injury is common in the desk-job world. The Center for Disease Control reports that 92,576 injuries resulted from repetitive motion, including typing or key entry. Make sure to take breaks from the keyboard at least once an hour. Use a wrist support at your computer when you are typing or browsing, Your forearm, wrist, and hand should be on a level, not making a V. The Harvard RSI action group suggests some exercises to help prevent repetitive stress injuries (http://www.rsi.deas.harvard.edu/). If you spend a lot of time on the phone and can't use a speaker phone, don't hold the phone by crunching your shoulder against your ear. Instead, invest in or ask for a headset or shoulder support for your receiver.

Drink Plenty Of Water:

Drinking water is very important. It can help you recover from a cold more quickly (though it doesn't "cure" it), replenish lost fluids after exercise, and assist in weight loss (many people think they are hungry when they are actually thirsty, so make sure to take a drink before diving for the candy machine). Keep a four-cup bottle or thermos near the computer and replenish daily. Don't overdo though - excess water can dilute important minerals and vitamins in your blood stream.

Make Sure To Take Your Vitamins & Other Pills:

Pill reminders. Do you need regularly forget to take vitamins because you're busy? Find an attractive, desk-top container to put the bottle in - a decorative flower pot is one option. Something attractive and eye catching will remind you it's there. This can also work for daily medications, but keep in mind that some medications can be toxic to others or have street-value (many prescribed pain killers), so these are medications that should stay with you, rather than your desk.

American Council on Exercise, "How much water is too much?," 2005

Center for Disease Control, "Repetitive Stress/Strain Injuries," www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/Ergonomics/Ergohome.htm

Tyrrell, D., Fielder, M. , Cold Wars: The Fight against the Common Cold,Oxford University Press, 2003

Ian Mason, owner of Shoppe.MD, your source for Online Prescription Medications and health news.

Ian studies health, weight loss, exercise, and several martial arts; maintaining several websites in an effort to help provide up-to-date and helpful information for other who share his interests in health of body and mind.

Contact Ian Mason by e-mail at ian@shoppe.md.





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
News Corp exec becomes chief of Germany's Premiere (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp's chief financial officer for Europe and Asia has been named chief executive of German pay television group Premiere, following the resignation of Michael Boernicke, Premiere said on Wednesday. News Corporation to redevelop London Wapping site (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is to redevelop its Wapping site in London, moving all its UK businesses, including News International, Harper Collins, MySpace and Dow Jones, under one roof. DeJesus, Royals sad at Sweeney news (MLB.com)
DeJesus, Royals sad at Sweeney news Tribune blames Google for damaging news story (Market Watch)
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Tribune Co. said Wednesday that the mistaken online publishing of an old news story that cratered UAL Corp.'s stock price earlier this week was because of a repeated technology failure at Google Inc. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI)
Chesney nominated for 7 CMAs ... Hoffman: I'm not playing Penguin ... 'RocknRolla' No. 1 at U.K. box office ... Jessica Simpson stops song on 'GMA' ... News from United Press International. DailyMe: News tailored to your individual tastes (The Christian Science Monitor)
Column: Custom news websites come and go, but this one gets it right. Get the latest news in racing (Daily Racing Form)
In order to read Daily Racing Form's free daily news stories it is required that you have a DRF.com free membership. If you do not have a DRF.com free membership, please register here . You will NOT need to be logged in to read each day's free news stories. Newport News police in standoff with man, possibly armed (The Virginian-Pilot)
NEWPORT NEWS Newport News police are involved in a standoff with a man inside an apartment who may have a gun, police said. A detective went to an apartment in the 500 block of 19th Street to try to serve a warrant on a suspect, said Officer Lou Thurston, a police spokesman. AIS adds news video to services (Bangkok Post - Thailand's English news)
Advanced Info Service (AIS) is introducing real-time news video clips over mobile phones, aiming to make its news content services a flagship source of non-voice revenue. Kyodo News agency says three inmates executed (AP via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
Kyodo News agency says three death-row inmates have been executed in Japan.

Site: news - Google News
New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority - New York Times

Boston Globe

New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority
New York Times, United States - 11 hours ago
The latest on the presidential transition and other political news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion. ...
A roundup of news, schedules, and key stories from CBS News ... CBS News
Reporter's Notebook: Children Everywhere on New Congress' First Day FOXNews
New Senate, House members sworn in Los Angeles Times
USA Today - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
all 2,514 news articles
Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld - San Francisco Chronicle

Times Online

Phil Schiller bringing the news at Macworld
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 3 hours ago
We get going at 9 am and we'll be delivering the news as it happens. 8:53 am Just a few minutes away. Listened to some Killers music on the way in. ...
Video: Steve Jobs Weight Loss Due to Hormone Imbalance AssociatedPress
O'Brien: Apple's final appearance at Macworld signals new era San Jose Mercury News
Apple disappoints: No Jobs or big news at Macworld Reuters
New Zealand Herald - PC World
all 2,963 news articles
Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer - Washington Post

Challenges for the New Chief Performance Officer
Washington Post, United States - 8 hours ago
When Bernie Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme hits the news, we realize the Securities and Exchange Commisssion needs to step up its enforcement. ...
Video: Obama Names Chief Performance Officer AssociatedPress
Obama Appoints New Officer to Get Rid of Government Waste Voice of America
Breaking News: Obama names first CPO FCW.com
Troy Messenger - The Washington Independent
all 674 news articles
New York Gov. David Paterson And Caroline Kennedy's Slowing Race ... - CBS News

ABC News

New York Gov. David Paterson And Caroline Kennedy's Slowing Race ...
CBS News, NY - 3 hours ago
By Bonnie Erbe I have written previously in this space in support of Caroline Kennedy's bid to replace Hillary Clinton as New York's junior United States ...
New York May Require Longer Coverage for Family Health Plans Bloomberg
New York's state? 'Perilous,' says Gov. David Paterson, in State ... New York Daily News
New York Governor's State of the State Address WETM-TV
WBNG-TV - IFAwebnews.com
all 313 news articles
Sony Ericsson's new W508 Walkman phone - CNET News

CNET News

Sony Ericsson's new W508 Walkman phone
CNET News, CA - 2 hours ago
Sony Ericsson expanded its Walkman phone line at CES with the announcement of its new W508 music phone. Sporting a flip phone design that reminds us of the ...
New Sony Hard-Drive HD Camcorders - PC World

PC World

New Sony Hard-Drive HD Camcorders
PC World - 2 hours ago
The SR line will live on, however, with three new standard-definition units. Pictured above is the Sony Handycam HDR-XR520V ($1500, available in March). ...
New Sony Camcorders Do GPS, Too PC World
Sony Unleashes 60X-Optical-Zoom Camcorders PC World
Sony's First Flash-Based Camcorders PC World
all 23 news articles
CNET News Daily Podcast: When businesses strike back at Yelpers - CNET News

CNET News Daily Podcast: When businesses strike back at Yelpers
CNET News, CA - 3 hours ago
Also in this podcast: Yahoo takeover talk returns in the new year; Intel revenue drops by $2 billion; and Facebook reaches a new milestone. ...
Pequot Said to Face New SEC Insider-Trading Inquiry - Bloomberg

Pequot Said to Face New SEC Insider-Trading Inquiry
Bloomberg - 5 hours ago
7 (Bloomberg) -- The US Securities and Exchange Commission opened a new investigation into whether Pequot Capital Management Inc., the hedge fund run by ...
Hedge fund Pequot faces new SEC probe - Bloomberg Reuters
all 8 news articles
More news on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act - Los Angeles Times

The Standard

More news on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
Los Angeles Times, CA - 1 hour ago
... stop providing such products on Feb.10, 2009, because they lack clear and consistent guidance on how to meet the new law's mandates," the letter says. ...
New Federal Regulations Might Hurt Consignment Shops MyNC.com
all 59 news articles
FOX News Exclusive: Former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg - FOXNews

FOX News Exclusive: Former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg
FOXNews - 9 hours ago
Happy new year. CAVUTO: The gist of this was, you think they are ? they are acting recklessly and in an alarming way, right? They're just giving stuff away. ...

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for exercise
Fort Jackson terror exercise canceled (The State)

Army officials have canceled a training exercise at Fort Jackson testing soldiers? ability to deal with dozens of injuries after a terrorist attack. Forecasts calling for thunderstorms and lightning Wednesday prompted the cancellation because much of the activity was supposed to take place in open fields at the base, a spokeswoman for the Army said. Dozens of mock casualties were to be ... Santa Clara County plans emergency responder training exercise (San Jose Mercury News)

A large-scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency response training exercise is planned for Thursday at the DePaul Medical Center in Morgan Hill. Many with 'fat' gene may need exercise (UPI)

MIAMI, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- More than half of all people of European descent have one or two copies of a "fat" gene variation, but lots of exercise may help, researchers say. Aerobic exercise for the wheelchair-bound (EurekAlert!)

( University of Texas at Austin, Electrical & Computer Engineering ) Simple exercise machine makes it fun for wheelchair users to fight high obesity, diabetes and heart disease rates. In Ramadan, Jordan TV campaign urges holy month observers to try healthy eating, exercise (AM New York)

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) _ The public-service TV ads deliver a cheerful, yet pointed, message to Muslims observing Ramadan's traditional dawn to dusk fast: "Don't overeat" when night comes. "Exercise and stay healthy." Canadian ships arrives to exercise with Indian Navy (Islamic Republic News Agency)

India - Canada - Navy Exercise Two Canadian warships will be visiting Indian waters for four days from Wednesday and carry out an exercise in the sea off the Chennai coast on Saturday. Community-based exercise organizations can help prevent diabetes (New Kerala)

Washington, Sept 10 : A study conducted at the YMCA has shown that community-based exercise organizations can help in preventing diabetes. Training exercise on Whittington Drive (The Peterborough Examiner)

The Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Service Emergency Response Team is conducting a training exercise in the area of Whittington Drive. This is a training exercise only and the public is not at risk. Exercise Tips for Success (Carteret County News-Times)

(ARA) - Everybody knows that exercise is good. Doctors have told us for years that exercise can help us lose weight, look better, feel better, and even sleep better. However, exercise sounds like work, and many of us claim that we just don't have time to add more work to our daily lives. Wearable Fitbit automatically tracks your exercise routines (Engadget)

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets , Wearables Although the world already has a set of headphones that encourages you to work out , the newly announced Fitbit is just a hair more sophisticated. Designed to be worn or carried around in a spare pocket, the personal tracker is about the size of a standard flash drive and includes a built-in motion sensor to keep tabs on "exercise intensity ... Site: exercise - Google News
Ask the Trainer: Add exercise to your efforts to stop smoking - Sheboygan Press

Ask the Trainer: Add exercise to your efforts to stop smoking
Sheboygan Press, WI - 17 hours ago
Not only is exercise good for you in the first place and a good distraction, it will help keep those extra pounds off. Anne Adams is a self-employed ...
Bad, bad belly fat susceptible to exercise - Detroit Free Press

Bad, bad belly fat susceptible to exercise
Detroit Free Press, United States - Jan 6, 2009
And this is where recent research about exercise and belly fat comes in. A study reported this fall from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in ...
Proper Shoes For Proper Exercise - Central Illinois Proud

Proper Shoes For Proper Exercise
Central Illinois Proud, IL - 4 hours ago
WMBD/WYZZ - Peoria - Many people make getting into shape their New Year?s resolution, and walking or running is an easy way to do just that. ...
Bomb exercise scares uninformed Catholic school - Daily Camera

Bomb exercise scares uninformed Catholic school
Daily Camera, CO - Jan 6, 2009
Tuesday's drill was a training exercise in the empty school involving SWAT and bomb disposal officers. Police said they won't release details about the ...
US must exercise leverage on Israel - Danbury News Times

BBC News

US must exercise leverage on Israel
Danbury News Times, CT - Jan 5, 2009
We will not exercise the leverage on Israel necessary to achieve peace; we will continue to alienate Arabs in the street; we have bankrupted ourselves as an ...
Video: Gaza families mourn dead after UN school bombed - 07 Jan 09 AlJazeeraEnglish
Steve Hunegs: Israel's response in Gaza cannot be called ... Minneapolis Star Tribune
China urges Security Council to push for immediate ceasefire in Gaza Xinhua
RTE.ie - CBS News
all 27,578 news articles
Diet, Exercise Could Bring Sickness During Winter - cbs4denver.com

Diet, Exercise Could Bring Sickness During Winter
cbs4denver.com, CO - Jan 6, 2009
It's not simply dieting that can weaken immunity; it's also jumping into exercise a little too vigorously. Instead of easing into a program, ...
Trainer creates cards for home exercise kit - DetNews.com

Trainer creates cards for home exercise kit
DetNews.com, MI - 20 hours ago
Box contains 150 basic exercises to tone specific body parts such as abs, thighs, back and calves. HOWELL -- Are the effects of turkey, sweet potatoes, ...
A set of weights, a pair of shoes, and wow - USA Today

USA Today

A set of weights, a pair of shoes, and wow
USA Today - 3 hours ago
And many have found economical ways to exercise: ?Gary Todd, 55, of Opelika, Ala., weighs 213 pounds, down from a high of 305. He has been walking around ...
Active shooter exercise will take place at LC Tuesday - KLEW

KLEW

Active shooter exercise will take place at LC Tuesday
KLEW, ID - Jan 6, 2009
Sergeant Ted Piche said the mock exercise will resemble a situation like the one seen at Virginia Tech in 2007. Piche said it's not that a similar situation ...
Live shooter drill focuses on saving lives KLEW
all 2 news articles
Researchers question whether physical activity contributes to ... - Austin American-Statesman

Washington Times

Researchers question whether physical activity contributes to ...
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 8 hours ago
By Mary Ann Roser | Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 11:35 AM I don?t seem to lose weight from exercise, and I?m beginning to understand why. ...
Activity Shown To Be Less Important for Weight Loss Than Food eMaxHealth.com
all 12 news articles
Home | Site Map | Resource Links