Just stop.
One of the hardest things about deskwork is the desk. You sit and sit and sit, staring at the computer. You scroll through Excel spreadsheets, edit Word documents, update things on InDesign, and add posts to WordPress. And still, you sit.
Sometimes you just need to STOP.
Step away from the computer. Stretch your legs. Crack your back. Do whatever it takes to allow yourself a pause.
Studies have shown that sitting nonstop in front of your desk actually lowers productivity. Yep, you read that correctly. Marathoning your to-do list may seem like a good idea, but in reality it just makes things way harder.
So take a few minutes every hour and a half or so to get out from behind your screens and reboot your body and mind!
Here are a few of our favorite solutions to the desk drag:
- Squats. Yes, seriously. Do ten or 15 a few times a day and not only will you start to feel the burn, but it will get your blood flowing!
- Take a lap around the office. Go outside and get some fresh air! It will do you some good, we promise.
- Walk over to your closest Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. Grab an iced coffee and not only will the caffeine give you a push in the right direction, but the exercise will jumpstart your brain to get even more done!
- Wander over to your favorite co-worker’s office and chat. Not only will you be giving yourself a break, but them too!
Let us know what some of your favorite mid-day work breaks are! We’d love to hear them!
Dave Oshlag has been helping companies large and small stay organized and focus on the right projects for more than 25 years. His specialty is saving hours of time wasted on disorganized systems without spending thousands of dollars. He’s best known for enabling massive changes in productivity with tools like W5 Templates that are simple, streamlined and get people organized quickly.