I was recently chatting to Sahar from Fat Fighter TV about blogging and asked if she could come up with some ways for us bloggers (read that as ME) to keep fit. Sahar went beyond what I expected and came back with 10 exercises for us to do WHILE STILL BLOGGING!
As bloggers, we tend to do a lot of sitting as we write, Tweet, Stumble, etc. By the end of the day it’s easy to feel tense, sore and sedentary. But since this is just so unhealthy, I’ve come up with some things we can all do to help us get fit as we blog – exercises to get our heart rate up, help us tone up and de-stress. All at the comfort of our blogging desk… or close by.
1. Cyber Squats – Who says you have to sit when you’re online? Set your chair aside for a few minutes and instead do squats as you write your next blog post, comment, or when you cruise around the Web. I’m squatting as I write this post – ouch!
2. RSS Raises – As you’re sitting at your desk, straighten your knees and lift your legs out in front of you. Do this as you catch up on your favorite blogs on your RSS reader.
3. 10 Minute Move it! Break #1 – Alternate jogging in place with jumping jacks – do a minute of each and repeat 5 times.
4. Twitter Tummy Tone – Tighten your abs for 30 seconds and then release. Do this as you tweet.
5. Social Squeezes – Tighten your glutes for 30 seconds and then release. (Good thing noone can see you at this social, right?) Repeat as you Stumble, Digg, or Friend on Facebook.
6. 10 Minute Move it! Break #2 – Grab a step stool and climb up and down – get creative if you like and alternate knee lifts at the top of the step.
7. Inbox Incline – While you’re sitting with your feet on the floor, raise your heels so you are on the balls of your feet and lower them. make sure you can feel it in your calves. Do this as you read and reply to your emails.
8. 10 Minute Move it! Break #3 – Do walking lunges around the house. Want to make it more challenging? Add some weights and do bicep curls at the same time.
9. Blogger Breather – Grab a quick minute to just close your eyes and focus on your breath. Count to 10 as you slowly inhale through your nose, thinking positive thoughts. Exhale through your mouth, again counting to 10. This time release all the tension and stress out of your body. Repeat if you have a few more seconds.
10. Sign Off Stretches – Your neck and shoulders can get pretty tense when you sit at a computer too long. So loosen them up throughout the day with:
- Shoulder shrugs – with your head at your chest, shrug your shoulders up and down.
- Neck Rolls – relax your shoulders and let your head roll forward. Slowly rotate your head in a circle. Repeat five times.
Do these exercises throughout the day to avoid blogger booty! You’ll feel better which could help you blog better.
Anyone else have some blogger exercises to share?
Read more of Sahar’s work at Fat Fighter TV.
Hey, if I get fit and do what I like to do everyday (blog) then I am all for it. Where do I sign up! I need to lose 10 pounds before the summer.
Great Recommendations. Very Good Information.
Any niche can use a website. A website gives you the opportunity to exercise the benefits of positioning. It isn’t necessarily about what niche. It is the quality of the content that will help you in the rankings longterm.
Come on!!
Get outside and get away from your computer.
You can’t get fit sitting (or standing) around your computer.
Fresh air. Look in to it.
Darren, your point is well-taken about sitting at the computer too long, and I admire your creativity and sense of humor.
I’d suggest that an even better solution is to get up from the computer and do a few real exercises that don’t require equipment or a gym. Consider, for example, the Eight Treasures, a series of chi gong or T’ai chi warmups that take maybe 10 minutes and don’t look like much. But they will re-invigorate anyone, and they’ve got centuries of wisdom and experience behind them.
I found a variation of the set I use at this website:
http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/fit/rdickinson1.htm
If possible, do them outside on the ground rather than pavement. But doing them anywhere, any time, will get everything back in tune.
Enjoy.
Excellent post – it’s a well known fact that the more we sit in front of our computers the fatter our bums get.
Using the above mentioned excersie tips combined with eating lots of raw and organic plant food us bloggers will be radiating health, energy and sex appeal . Yeeeehaaaa.
I use a dial-up modem. I sometimes jog in place while the pages are loading.
hahahah, quite an interesting topic though no one thought about it before:))
Considering the amount of time some of us spend on the computers while blogging, or doing any kind of work on the pc in general, these are some great, and funny tips.
~ Kristi
John – March 13th, 2009 9:39 pm. I agree, nothing can beat some fresh air and a walk outside. :)
Wouldn’t it make more sense to just get up from the computer and go walk around the block.
Regular breaks in between will be a better option. Like Rob said above, eat less, exercise more. It’s that Simple!
this is a great article and great ideas put there. if only you could find out a way how to blog and dont need to sleep.. would be decent!
Just do what I do..probably not the most healthy thing. Just get jacked up on coffee until your legs wont sit still. Keeps my legs toned, and me awake.
This is quick and easy exercise tips for “long-sitters” and i appreciate it’s explained in some easy, practical steps. I myself sit before computer for long hours say upto 16 to 18 hours a day. Being a designer who’s now planning to shift as a full timer, I feel that taking short and quick breaks from sitting are necessarily needed. Thanks again
thats wonderful… you can blog and be fit with the use of that chair??…
is it possible for everyone to follow all these, the best one which comes to my mind is just take a 2 – 3 minute walk, as this would freshen up your mind and ease all your body muscles.
thats interesting way to get fit. i never know about that. hoho..
Start smoking, you’ll have to go outside for it in most countries now so you’ll walk and get fresh air.
Don’t be glued to your computer. Get out of the house and walk for an hour a couple times a day. That is what I do. Not only will it get you fit, but you would be amazed as to what it can do to help you come up with some great ideas.
When you do this, you may want to take a digital recorder to remind yourself of what you thought of during your exercise. You’d be amazed how quickly you forget when things are flying through your head. It is quite amazing how this will help you when you can’t come up with an idea.
These are some awesome tips. I tried a few and must say, felt better instantly.
Those who find it hard to find time to step out of their blogging space, maybe you could keep a yoga mat close to your computer table or work place and take short breaks to do some deep breathing exercises or yoga postures. Its really helps.