A lot of the cramps and stiffness many sedentary workers experience are the result of a lack of blood flow. In this post, we share some simple solutions that don’t require calisthenics.
Does Your Body Suffer from a Lack of Blood Flow?
Do you own or work at a business that requires you to sit at a desk all day long from Monday through Friday? And do you ever find yourself getting sore legs, stiff neck, or cramped shoulders? Yep, sitting in front of a computer all day will do that to you.
A lot of the cramps and stiffness we experience are due to sitting for a long period of time. This is because the blood in your body has trouble flowing if you’re not moving. But how can you move more when you need to work at a desk? Well, here are some easy solutions to get your blood flowing without making a spectacle by doing gymnastics at work.
Go for Walks on Breaks to Get the Blood Flowing
Whenever you take breaks from running your business—and you really should—use the time to go for a walk. Go out with a colleague or simply put on a relaxing playlist. Walk around the office or throughout the building, but go outside if you can. Bring a snack that you can enjoy on the go, such as a wrap or a sandwich.
Instead of getting coffee and sitting down during breaks, try walking up and down the stairs if your office has multiple floors. Otherwise, you can just walk around the space. You don’t need to make exaggerated movements to get the blood flowing. All you need is to get things in gear.
Take those steps one at a time, remember to breathe deeply, and walk it out. Your blood circulation will thank you.
Wear Compression Socks to Stimulate Blood Flow
If there’s not a lot of time for you to get up and walk around, compression socks or stockings could be a great solution. This is because compression socks stimulate blood flow while you sit at your desk. The knee-high length can work well with office attire, since they won’t show under work trousers or longer skirts.
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However, make sure you check with your doctor before wearing them. In almost all cases they aren’t harmful. On the other hand, if you have nerve damage in your legs, a skin infection on your legs or feet, or some other conditions, you should probably stay away from compression socks.
Compression socks are an easy way to stimulate blood flow, and you can easily find them at a local pharmacy. However, if you would prefer more stylish socks that will look good no matter the outfit, browse through the selection on this website from Comrad. You’ll get compliments all day, and nobody will even know they’re compression socks!
Take Time to Stretch
Stretching is an easy way to increase blood flow, and you can do it right at your desk. Simply getting up and stretching for a short ten minutes every hour or two can make all the difference in how your body feels.
The movements don’t have to be complex. Here is one routine you could do:
- Reach your hands up to the ceiling, then take a deep breath
- Go onto your tiptoes, then take another breath
- Slowly curl down to touch your toes
- Slowly curl back up to a normal standing position
Here’s another suggestion:
- Bend your knees, twist your ankles, lean one side and then the other
Slow, careful stretching combined with deep breathing will really get your blood flowing.
Drink Tea
Hot tea helps your blood circulate more effectively. Also, because tea has a lot of antioxidants, it helps promote good cardiovascular health. The healthier your veins, the better your blood will flow. Choose black, green, or white tea.
Make tea your go-to beverage while you work or even while you go on walks during breaks.
Encourage Colleagues to Join You
Blood flow is essential to longevity and good health. However, sitting in a chair all day doesn’t help blood flow.
But office work doesn’t have to mean doom for your blood circulation. There are plenty of ways to get your blood pumping without causing a ruckus in the office. Try the simple stretches we suggest here, and encourage your colleagues to join you on a break for a much-deserved walk.
