Your Guide to Getting Up and Moving Around While Working From Home

If you’ve finally established a productive at-home work environment – where there’s next to no distractions and you can bang out emails for hours on end – you might be less motivated to up your daily step count.

However, getting up moving around when working from home should really be on your daily to-do list, too.

“It is important to get up and move throughout the day,” confirms Dr. Jasmine Marcus, PT, DPT, CSCS. “This keeps your blood circulating well, and also can help prevent aches and pains from being in one position for too long.”

Maybe for you that translates to achy knees, a stiff back, or a tense neck and shoulders.

So, how often should you get up off your chair?

“There’s no exact rule for how often to get up, but anywhere from every half hour to every two hours is a good bet,” Dr. Marcus suggests. “During this time, stretch whatever feels tight or just walk around for a moment. Again, no rule for how long the break should be.”

Dr. Marcus says that switching up your workstation as the day goes on could be beneficial, too.

“You can try to vary your work space if possible, sitting on different surfaces and chairs throughout the day. You can also try standing with your computer or during phone calls to get more variety,” she adds.

After all, there’s more than a few ways you can DIY a standing desk – or any type of other desk – at home.

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Related: 6 Tips to Help You Survive Working From Home With Your Partner and Kids