5 Minute Move-Your-Body Breaks Improve Your Health

Juggling work life and family life is not easy.  All moms know this to be true.  It is difficult to meet the needs of your employer, your family and yourself.  Many times moms put their needs last, and our health suffers for it.

I have two main suggestions to my moms (and dads) who work, especially in an office setting

The 5 minute move-your-body break

Set your alarm to go off every hour and take a 5 minute move-your-body break. If you have stairs, fabulous!  Get up, take a bathroom break, run up and down the stairs (or walk at a brisk pace), grab some water and get back to work. Your time away from your desk will be minimal – 5 minutes at most. You’ll have elevated your heart rate and cleared some cob webs.  

Move-your-body breaks are especially important if you work at home. Get up and get active. Get outside and remember that there is a whole world out there. Your body and your mind will thank you for it.

Walk on your lunch break

Walk for 15-20 minutes on your lunch break. If you get your body moving continuously for 15-20 minutes, you increase your heart rate, recharge your brain cells and breathe some fresh air. Walking is also a moving meditation, you get a chance to take a break from your workplace and focus on YOU.

Physical exercise stimulates nerve pathways to the brain. The physical act of moving your body actually excites the thinking part of your brain (the frontal lobe) and you become more focused and productive at work.  When your thinking brain is active, it overrides the reactive part of your brain. The result is that you are less likely to take offense to what your co-workers say or do. Physical activity actually helps you enjoy positive emotions more than negative ones.

Exercise helps you to have more energy throughout your day, and regulates your blood sugars. Mini workouts such as quick stair climbing help you produce natural endorphins and, as a result, you are happier throughout the day.

When you are home, improve your family’s health – turn off your television and go outside together.  Go for a walk, go play in the park, take a family bike ride. Your brain and body will be much happier if your do. Your kids will love it…. and so will you.

Dr. Melanie Beingessner is a pregnancy and pediatric-focussed chiropractor, a breastfeeding counselor, an infant massage instructor and a mom of three awesome kids.