5 Mini-Workouts for the Cubicle Crowd

5 Mini-Workouts for the Cubicle Crowd

With summer vacation a thing of the past and school routines in full swing, finding time to workout daily can be a struggle. While challenging workouts are best, those chained to the cube all day can add a little exercise to the workday.

1. Swap the office chair for an exercise ball. This simple switch helps strengthen the core and lower back muscles, even if its only for a few hours of the day.

2. Take the stairs. It sounds easy enough, but too often the elevator is too tempting. Taking the stairs throughout the day, including to and from lunch and breaks, will put a boost in your step while burning calories. Challenge yourself by taking 2 steps at a time.

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3. Inter-office activity. Remember the days before email? Maybe not, but there was time (see: Mad Men) when employees actually got up out of their chair to ask a question to co-worker. Hearken back to those days by eschewing the email for a face to face. Set a small goal: start by seeing if you can eliminate 25 emails to personally ask questions or have a short discussion.

5. Calf lifts. When seated, take Velcro ankle weights and rest them above the knee and do sets of calf lifts throughout the work day. Designate a certain time to stay on track, i.e. every half hour on the hour, for 15 minutes. Keep the weights at work and in sight to maintain a routine.

*Consult a doctor before starting any exercise regimen