SOURCE: Body Insight Inc.
LOS ANGELES, CA–(Marketwire – August 31, 2010) – That back to school time of year is here again and whether you are a student, a parent, or a burnt-out employee, the return to a regular schedule generates feelings of renewal and promise. Back to school (or back to work) resolutions focus more on improving stress management and decreasing the aches and pains associated with deskwork than their sibling New Year’s resolutions.
Chantal Donnelly, a physical therapist and host of the new DVD “Pain Free At Work,” offers tips on making the most effective back to school resolutions.
“Come Labor Day, you may find it more difficult to push the pause button on stress than you did on vacation, but you can make changes that will decrease stress, neck pain, back pain, headaches and arm pain as well as improve your mood and productivity at work,” states Donnelly, the owner of Body Insight Inc., a company dedicated to injury prevention through exercise. Among her favorite back to work resolutions, Donnelly recommends committing to more micro-breaks while working at a computer. “Studies have shown that taking short, more regular breaks can decrease discomfort and increase typing speed (so there is no loss of productivity). Take 30-second long breaks every 45 minutes as well as longer, five-minute breaks every two hours. Computer rest break programs are a great way to keep tract of break times. These downloadable programs remind you when it is time to rest and will guide you through desk exercises during the longer break periods,” suggests Donnelly.
Here are some more tips for back to school and work resolutions from Chantal Donnelly:
“Learn how to type properly. If you are a two-fingered typist and have to constantly look down at the keys to write, you are placing excessive strain on your neck joints and are at risk for disc injuries. Try free, online typing lessons or check your local community college for classes.
“Get some form of physical activity DURING your workday. The brain is stimulated by exercise. Your creativity, problem solving and thinking skills will improve if you move. Try a brisk 10-minute walk during a meeting with a coworker, a game of basketball during lunch, 20 minutes of upper body weights while on a conference call… Whatever your preference and however you can fit it in, physical activity while at work will help you think better.
“Schedule a daily ‘no screen time’ period when you get home from work or school. This means no computers, video games or T.V. during a set time everyday. A two to three hour period works best and encourages face-to-face social interaction (necessary for stress management) and gives your eyes a needed break from staring at a monitor.”
About Chantal Donnelly
Chantal Donnelly, MPT is a faculty member and research advisor at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. She is the host of two rehabilitation DVDs: “Strong Knees” (Gaiam) and “Pain Free At Work” (Body Insight Inc.). She has been featured in various magazines including Woman’s World and Woman’s Day Magazine. Chantal designed the Pain Free At Work program in order to give people a healthy solution to repetitive strain injuries, back pain and neck pain so common in the workplace.
For more information on health and wellness in the workplace, computer rest break programs or back to school resolution tips, please visit www.bodyinsight.com or contact Chantal Donnelly at [email protected] or by phone 213.215.6778.
Click here to see all recent news from this company