As busy as our days can get you must never neglect to take the time to stretch. With technology—in particular computers—becoming an increasing part of our jobs and daily lives, our bodies do not get the care they need.
Meg Selig, retired counseling professor and author of Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success, opined that “Sitting too much for too long increases the risk of dying early.” Selig explains that “movement is medicine”; when you do not move for long periods of time, the blood flow to your legs decreases. This causes an accumulation of plaque, which could lead to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression.
With our endless To-Do lists, it is often hard to squeeze in exercise, but there should be no reason why you can’t implement stretching into your daily routine. Paul Huljich, known for his drug-free methods of overcoming stress and author of two self-help books: The Stress Pandemic and Betrayal of Love and Freedom. He explains that stretching amounts to daily maintenance for our bodies. Huljich points out that stretching aids relaxation, increases good posture, decreases back pain, conditions your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as helps release the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles. All of this supports healthy sleep, which we all need.
It only takes a few minutes to get up and stretch. The health benefits are far too great to push stretching off your radar screen. Practice stretching every day and implement it into your routine. Don’t neglect the things your body needs to be able to heal and repair itself in order to stay healthy. You will notice the increase in energy and enthusiasm that this simple addition to your schedule will bring.
For more information:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mind-wellness-awareness/201301/walking-stretching-and-earthing
(https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/changepower/201703/is-it-true-movement-is-medicine)