How to Avoid Office Chair Butt

Get moving to avoid office chair butt.

Many Americans currently spend their days sitting at desks at work, sitting down while commuting to and from work and sitting down at home. The eight-plus hours a day spent sitting at the office alone is enough to cause your bottom to flatten and expand. This occurrence is also known as "office chair butt," or OCB. No one, no matter your age or sex, wants OCB. In addition to being unattractive, sciatic nerve problems and back problems also accompany OCB. Even if your job requires you to sit all day, you can still avoid office chair butt.

Instructions

1. Stretch your body. Stand up and move away from your desk at least a few times a day. Raise your hands towards the ceiling as far as you can, and bend over and touch your knees, then shins, then--if you can--feet and floor. Hold each stretch for five to 10 seconds. Repeat the stretch five times each. If you can't touch parts of your body or the floor right away, be patient. If you keep stretching there will come a time when you can.

2. Squeeze your butt a few times a day, perhaps after you stretch. Hold a tight squeeze as long as you can. Repeat the squeeze five to 10 times.

3. Walk around the office throughout the day, once every hour or two. Walk to get a glass of water, walk to the bathroom or walk to find a colleague when you need to chat instead of instant messaging, emailing or calling them.

4. Walk during lunch. Even if its for only 15 minutes walk outside, at a nearby mall or other walkable location during your lunch. If your lunch is easily portable, you can eat while you walk. During the rest of your workday, consider parking far away from the office and walk to work and take the stairs instead of the elevator.

5. Adopt an exercise routine. Exercise at least 30 minutes or more each day before work or after work and on the weekends. Exercise programs for avoiding office chair butt include yoga, biking, swimming and weight lifting.

6. Suggest your office adopt a mid-day exercise option, perhaps held right after lunch. For 15 to 30 minutes, you and your office mates could practice yoga or another simple, stretching activity so everyone can avoid office chair butt.