Introduction to the series from Computer and Text Neck Stretching Exercises by Desk Yogi
Since the pandemic started and the shift to all virtual, I have found myself sitting in front of a screen for longer stretches. If I don’t take stretch breaks at my desk or encourage everyone to stretch with me during virtual meetings, my neck hurts by the end of the day.
If you make some simple corrections to your posture and typing habits, you can eliminate neck pain. This video by Dr. Baxter Bell offers some exercises to help relieve and prevent neck pain. If that wasn’t enough, the stretches have entertaining names and movements, including the chicken neck and self Vulcan mind meld.
You should have a repertoire of stretches that you do at your desk throughout the day, but I also like to encourage stretch breaks during virtual meetings workshops, and webinars, especially if they run longer than 60 minutes. I have a few fun ones that I do on zoom such as “catch the stretch” where people follow each other’s stretches like a game of follow the leader.
I love this idea for reducing zoom fatigue and techno stress. It comes from Eric Jenssen, a teacher, who had his students leave the zoom call mid-class. He made them do it.
He asked them to leave his phones behind and take a ten-minute walk around the block. Before they left, they had to tilt their cameras down so he could see their phones that were left behind.
Taking a brief walk, leaving your desk and screen, is one of the best techniques for getting rid of that overwhelmed feeling that happens. Too often we don’t do it!
Learn more tips and how to apply them to your team at my upcoming virtual workshop, Self-Care for Nonprofit Leaders During a Pandemic, on Friday, November 6 and hosted by Candid. I’ll also share strategies to help you develop your own self-care plan and connect with other leaders in the nonprofit sector.
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