Working from home has become a significant aspect of many people's professional lives, revolutionizing not just how we work but also impacting our daily physical activity levels. We understand the convenience and challenges that this shift brings, especially when it comes to maintaining an active lifestyle. A sedentary routine can creep in unnoticed, leading to a decrease in physical well-being. This is why integrating exercises into your home office routine is essential, not just for physical health but also for mental and emotional balance.
Our goal at Pleaz is to help mitigate the health issues that stem from inactivity and work-related stress. We encourage creating a comfortable yet effective home workout space that enables you to incorporate short bursts of physical activity throughout your day. By intentionally designing an exercise routine that fits into your work schedule, you can improve ergonomics, prevent injuries, and stay motivated. With our platform, fostering a culture of health breaks can bridge the social gap, bringing teams closer even when they're apart.
Choosing the Right Equipment
When equipping your home gym, prioritize versatile fitness tools that match your workout routine. Here's a compact yet comprehensive list:
- Yoga Mat: Essential for stretches and floor exercises.
- Resistance Bands: For a variety of strength training exercises.
- Dumbbells: Get a set with varying weights, or adjustable ones.
- Kettlebell: Ideal for high-intensity workouts.
- Stability Ball: Enhances core workouts and can double as a chair.
Having a mix of these items will ensure you can perform a wide range of exercises tailored to your fitness goals.
Should you prefer doing your workouts without the use of equipment, Pleaz has a full range of video-guided exercises that can be done without any equipment whatsoever - feel free to reach out to get a demonstration of the concept
Allocating Space
Your workout area should be tailored to the exercises you intend to perform. Consider the following when choosing your space:
- Dimensions: A bare minimum would be enough room to lay out a yoga mat and extend your limbs in all directions.
- Flooring: A stable, non-slip surface is important for safety.
- Separation: Use furniture or room dividers to delineate your gym area, which helps minimize distractions.
Ensuring Proper Ventilation
Good air quality is imperative for an effective workout. To achieve this:
- Windows: Open them to allow for air circulation if weather permits.
- Fans or AC Units: If you don't have windows or the air outside is poor, ensure you have a fan or an air conditioner to keep the air moving.
Proper ventilation reduces the risk of overheating and helps keep your workout environment comfortable.
Designing Your Exercise Routine
Creating a Balanced Workout
A balanced workout routine should include a variety of activities that target different muscle groups and fitness components.
- Cardio exercises improve cardiovascular health.
- Strength training builds muscle and bone density.
- Flexibility exercises enhance the range of motion.
- Stretching helps prevent injury and decrease muscle stiffness.
Map out your weekly routine to include these elements across different days or within the same workout.
Incorporating Cardio
Cardiovascular activity is crucial for heart health and can be easily done at home without equipment.
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 30-minute brisk walk or jog.
- Indoor Alternatives: Jumping jacks, running in place, or brisk stair climbing.
Set a specific time during your day for these activities, like a mid-morning break or a wind-down session post-work.
Including Strength Training
Strength training doesn't require heavy weights; bodyweight exercises are highly effective.
Sample Routine (Tuesday/Thursday):
- Push-ups: 3 sets of 10 repetitions
- Squats: 3 sets of 15 repetitions
- Lunges: 3 sets on each leg
Use household items like water bottles for added resistance, or try some of our functional Pleazers.
Flexibility and Stretching Exercises
Flexibility work includes movements that help maintain the muscles' and joints' health. Implement stretching into your daily routine:
- Morning: Stretch for 5-10 minutes to awaken the body.
- Mid-day workout: Include stretches specific to the muscle groups that are feeling tense while working - eg. neck, back or shoulders.
- End of Workday: Wind down with a relaxing stretch session to relieve tension.
Regular practice of these exercises promotes recovery and reduces the risk of injury, ensuring you're ready for your next workout.
While most people believe that it is "good enough" to do exercise outside of working hours, recent research shows that doing short exercises during the workday actually is equally beneficial to the physical wellbeing, and also benefits the mental and social health
Ergonomics and Workstation Exercises
When we spend hours at our desks, it's crucial to create an environment that promotes physical well-being. We'll guide you through optimizing your workspace for comfort and deliver exercise tips that you can perform at your desk to mitigate potential health issues.
Adjusting Your Workstation
Desk Height and Chair: Ensure that your desk is at a height where your forearms can rest comfortably on the surface with your elbows at a 90-degree angle. Your chair should support the natural curve of your spine, with feet flat on the ground or on a footrest.
Monitor Position: Position your monitor about an arm's length away with the top of the screen at or just below eye level to prevent neck strain.
Keyboard and Mouse Placement: Place your keyboard and mouse close enough to prevent overreaching, with your wrists straight while typing or using the mouse.
Lighting: Good lighting is essential to avoid eye strain. Position the screen to avoid glare and ensure that the room is well-lit.
Desk-Friendly Exercises
Neck Stretches: To relieve neck tension, gently tilt your head from side to side. Hold for a few seconds on each side.
Shoulder Shrugs and Rolls: Lift your shoulders towards your ears and hold for a few seconds before releasing. Roll your shoulders forward and backward in a circular motion.
Wrist Stretches: Extend an arm out, palm facing down. With the other hand, gently press down on the extended hand to stretch the wrist and forearm.
Leg Extensions: While sitting, straighten one leg and hold in a raised position for a few seconds. Lower gently and repeat with the other leg.
By incorporating these ergonomic adjustments and exercise routines into our workdays, we at Pleaz promote sustainable health for a more balanced, active work life. Should you need more support in doing variations of these exercises, check out Pleaz' digital solution
Staying Motivated at Home
To thrive while working from home, it's crucial for us to set concrete objectives, track our progress, and ensure consistency in our routine.
Setting Goals
We start by defining clear, attainable goals that match our mission of sustainable health. Whether it's incorporating short exercise breaks into our work schedule or limiting prolonged sitting, specific targets give us direction.
- Short-term Goals: g., Stand for 5 minutes every hour.
- Long-term Goals: g., Complete a 30-minute workout 5 days a week.
Staying Consistent
Our commitment to consistency is key to forming lasting habits. We set reminders to move regularly and maintain our exercise routine, despite the allure of a comfortable home environment.
- Daily Reminders: To include a short exercise in any recurring team meetings.
- Regular Breaks: Scheduled into our calendars.
Safety Precautions and Injury Prevention
To maintain a healthy work-life balance and prevent injuries during home exercises, we at Pleaz emphasize the importance of warming up, recognizing signs of overexertion, and sustaining proper hydration and nutrition. These critical steps ensure that you can enjoy the benefits of physical activity without compromising your safety.
Warming Up and Cooling Down
Warming up before any physical activity prepares our muscles and cardiovascular system for exercise, reducing the risk of injury. Begin your workout with at least 5 - 10 minutes of light aerobic activity followed by dynamic stretches that mimic the movements of your workout.
Example Warm-Up Routine:
- Jogging in place or brisk walking: 5 minutes
- Arm circles and leg swings: 10 reps each
Following your main exercise session, a cooling down period helps to gradually lower heart rate and begin the recovery process. End your workout with a 5 - 10 minute cool-down of low-intensity exercise and static stretching to improve flexibility and prevent stiffness.
Example Cool-Down Routine:
- Slow walking: 5 minutes
- Stretch major muscle groups: 30 seconds each
Recognizing Overexertion
Understanding and acknowledging the limits of our bodies is crucial. Overexertion can lead to injuries and hinder productivity. Listen to your body and take note of these signs:
- Excessive fatigue: Not feeling re-energized after sufficient rest.
- Pain or discomfort: Sharp or persistent pains during or after workouts.
- Difficulty breathing: Disproportionate shortness of breath to the intensity level of the activity.
If any of these symptoms occur, it's important to rest and, if necessary, seek medical advice.