Friday, March 27, 2015

Will a standing desk help me?

Evidence shows that sitting at a desk for long periods is unhealthy, even if you exercise a lot.  “Time spent sitting is consistently associated with premature mortality, diabetes, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, irrespective of time spent in exercise “ (Vichealth 2012).

Is a standing desk the answer?
Working at a standing desk has captured our imagination. A Vichealth survey of its own workers trialing standing desks found great benefits to their use.

Here's my favourite standing desk
- the human hamster wheel.
Designed by Robb, find it at 
Instructables
But be aware. You are likely to take bad habits with you, or adopt new ones.

Try answering these questions

  • Do you slump in sitting or standing?
  • Are your shoulders and arms rigid?
  • Are your hips further forward than your shoulders when you stand?


Staff at VicHealth identified limits to using standing desks. These included longer keyboard sessions, back pain, fatigue, old habits, and type of footwear (eg, high heels).

My suggestions for your work

* Leave your work station for two minutes every 20 minutes, as recommended by Baker IDI (Australia's highly regarded medical research institute). You don’t have to leave the job behind – try keeping your mental focus on the particular task. You’re just taking the body for a walk, not your mind – but feel free to do this too.

My standing desk for reading and writing
* Try before you buy. Rig up a temporary high bench using a box or pile of books. For writing and reading, do it on a sloping surface if possible. Stand in different ways, not just square on. Try a tai chi stance, with one foot slightly ahead and angled out. When you do buy, make sure your standing desk is adjustable, and not rigid in one position.


* Keep several eyes on your posture and on any tension. Try and understand your  deep seated habits. Ask colleagues to observe you and give gentle feedback on your posture. Learn how to say “no” to these habits using my blogposts, for example on slumping, tight shoulders and arms, and hip position. 

20 minute check-up 
I specialise in teaching office workers how to deal with their habits. And I have learnt much about how to set up a work station.  Why not book a 20 minute check-up. It won’t cost a fortune, and will put you in good stead for managing the many hours you spend in the office.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Can your sleep improve?

Sleeping can be a nightmare. We all want to sleep well. But it eludes many of us, especially in hectic periods of our lives.

“The Alexander Technique helped a long-standing back problem and to get a good night’s sleep after many years of tossing and turning.” - Paul Newman, actor

Here are three ideas relevant to everyone, but particularly people who want better sleep.

  • Try constructive rest on the floor before bed – even for five minutes. This softens the breathing, releases tension in the body, and allows you to calm the mind. Read my popular blogpost Resting the back is great for desk-bound people. You can also email me if you would like a tip sheet. I suggest that you first write down the list of jobs or concerning issues, so you can truly say to yourself ‘that’s for tomorrow’. Of course, you can later add another point if it is likely to prey on your thinking. 


  • Check whether your head and spine are aligned in your main sleeping position. Avoid a crick in the neck. The height of your pillow should allow a good alignment. If you lie on your back, the height needed is less. Sleeping on your stomach is not recommended. I encourage you to experiment with your current pillows before rushing out to buy new ones. The woman in this image is very badly aligned, while the man could also improve how he is lying.


  • Observe yourself before arising or changing position. Ask for any areas of tension to soften and release before you move. Direct your attention to different body parts, as you would in yoga or meditation. 

There are many resources out there to help sleep deprived people, for example the non-profit Better Sleep Council. Many years ago, I purchased the Sleep Better without Drugs self-help program, and based on that experience can highly recommend it.

May you have many restful nights.