An example of a post-working-day recovery routine
- One good way of recovering from a day sitting at your desk is to get moving! The main drawback with your working day is the fact you've not been moving around and the consequences this can have: your muscles are contracted all the time, which means lactic acid can build up and they can become sore. At the same time, your joints are stuck in the same position, which can leave you feeling stiff and uncomfortable.
- By doing a few little mobility, stretching and/or muscle strengthening exercises you can alleviate these problems. There are a whole host of movements and exercises you can do. The best ones will be the ones you enjoy doing (good news) and if they really get you moving in the areas that have been most inactive (your neck, back and shoulders, etc), then so much the better. And you don't need to go to a gym and have a lot of space to do them in either.
- Now that you're moving again, it's worth bringing a little TLC into your recovery routine and giving yourself some psychological relief, which is always welcome in these situations and is good for the body too. After all, your body and mind are one. One of the best ways to relax after a working day is self-massage.
- A gentle self-massage, using a self-massage tool or a massage belt, of your back, these and/or neck area can really help you relax and bring a pleasant end to your working day.
- Similarly, applying heat to your most sensitive muscles (listed above) can relax both them and you. You can apply a heat pad to them or just take a nice warm bath or shower. Either way you're guaranteed to lower your stress levels and muscle tension.
- And to round things off, do something fun, even if it's just for a few minutes. It will help you recover mentally from your day in the office. And don't skip this step either because it can have a big impact on your quality of life at work and at home, alleviating fatigue, stress, and aches and pains. It is perhaps the most important part of the whole recovery routine.
