Shoulders down
Today’s baby step to success is for everyone on the ‘team’. I highly doubt any of us are using proper posture in front of our computer keyboards. For example, are you aware your shoulders are up around your ears right now? If you think about it, you’ll notice they most likely are. They creep higher and higher during the day (and night) as we work. To help alleviate this issue, try the following routine:
-
Take a deep breath in; then out dropping your shoulders on the out breath
-
Breathe in deeply again
-
Drop your shoulders further on the next out breath
-
Breathing normally; take a moment to roll your shoulders backward; pause; roll shoulders forward
-
Give yourself a hug; grasp hands behind your waist and stretch arms upward gently as far as you can.
-
Take another deep breath in; drop your shoulders while breathing out.
-
Relax.
-
Go back to typing.
-
Repeat once an hour when at the keyboard.
This is a great habit to get into and takes almost no time at all to include in your day. You will notice benefits including not being so stressed and feeling so tuckered.
To the little things…
Sue Crutcher, Life Empowerment Mentor
PS – my website has been updated with healthy lifestyle tips and I’ve posted some new recipes to encourage you along your Baby Steps to Success.
Comments
Sue, that was really great. You were right!!!! I almost couldn't hear because my shoulders were so high up around my ears! hahaha Seriously, I went through the exercises and what a difference. Another lady that really knows her stuff!
thank you,
Lisa McLellan
Childcare Expert
I do have bad posture on the computer. Now I'll be aware of it and can do something about it.
Steve Chambers, Leadership Consultant
I know too much about how a computer can hurt you!
Tim
Dr Peter
I thought you were watching me too. This little exercise worked wonders for me. Thank you Sue.
Yann Vernier - Personal Coach
There I was, hunched over the keyboard. Funny thing is I spend a lot of time thinking about and working on posture... that is, away from the computer.
Sheridan
You'll have to teach us that trick of how to look through the computer. I was doing it to.
Great Advise
Focus Your Energy
Matthew Shields
Technology is an amazing thing and I'm sure there is a way to look through your computer if I researched into it. In fact, I could likely look right into your house from googleearth or something. No need though, when I'm psychic is there?
Sue
Aaron
Sue-
Any other tips on how to relieve chronic tightness in your shoulders? That's where I seem to carry my tension....
Jennifer Skinner
Wardrobe Planning Expert
Massage therapists, love my shoulder/neck area! It's not nice to make a grown man cry!
John
You could look at it from a psychological viewpoint, Jennifer and John -- are you carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Are there obligations you take on that you could delegate to someone else? Perhaps you allow people to heap things on you that, at some deeper level (perhaps not consciously), you resent?
My massage therapist can spend an hour just on my traps -- it is sad and it does hurt. It's not nice to make you cry John.
From a physical point of view, try an ice pack for 10 minutes out of an hour to help relieve inflammation. Make sure there is a layer of fabric between the ice and your skin. If it is the right thing for you, you will actually sigh with relief when the coldness soaks in a bit. If it is uncomfortable ... stop.
It is also possible that either or both or you have trigger points that need release. Is there a specific point of pain with a lesser pain surrounding it that you can actually point to and say: 'the pain is here'. It could be a lot of other things too.
Tomorrow I think I will post a stretching exercise that will be good for everyone from the sound of it.
Sue
Yay! Thank you, Sue!
Jenn
Scott A Bell
I am The Road Warrior: Insider Travel Secrets
Sue, love your recipes. I live by a farmers market and can;t wait to try out the dressings!!!!
Sonya Lenzo
www.sonyamlenzo.com