Your health
Exercise without leaving your chair.

You know exercise is good for you physically and mentally. So you ran a few miles before work this morning, right?

Like most busy real estate professionals, you probably have little time for the gym or even a brisk morning walk. However, you can work out while you work without changing into gym clothes or installing a treadmill in your office.

Try these simple exercises and stretches a few times a day to release tension and remember some of those muscles you’ve let sit idle. Some of these movements can be done sitting at your desk or sitting in a car waiting for a client, while others require more space.

Tone those abs

Move to the front edge of your seat and extend your arms forward. Slowly lower your torso toward the back of the seat–without touching it–while keeping your back straight and hold for few seconds.

Lift with your legs

Sit up straight in a chair and extend your leg until it’s straight and parallel with the ground. Hold it for a few seconds, lower the leg, and switch to the other one.

You can vary this exercise and work different leg muscles by leaving your leg bent at the knee and lifting your foot a few inches off the ground.

Arm yourself

Work your biceps and triceps with some simple arm exercises using a light weight or full water bottle. Sit in a chair with your back straight. Place the weight in one hand and lower that hand to your side, palm facing up. Curl the weight straight toward your shoulder.

Work your triceps by raising your elbow to shoulder level and extending the hand with the weight up over your head.

Fit fitness into your day

Still can’t incorporate exercise into your routine? Make subtle changes that force you to be more active: Take the stairs when you can, park farther away from a store than you need to, and use a headset for your phone and walk around the house or office while you talk.

You won’t turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger doing these activities, but you’ll burn more calories and might feel better about yourself. Of course, it’s a good idea to talk with your physician before embarking on an exercise program.

Remember, you don’t have to run a marathon, swim the English Channel, or train for the Tour de France to derive mental and physical benefits from exercise. Sometimes you don’t even need to get out of your chair.

Illustration © Artville.

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