Don’t end your work day feeling burned out — try to “Deskercise.”
Over the last decade or two there has been lots of back and forth about how technology has contributed to our society; whether to its positive evolution or to its dismal demise. As a nature loving, meditation practicing hippie who also works in the tech industry, I can see both sides of the coin. In fact, it is this very yin-yang lifestyle that has helped me to find balance in today’s fast-paced, digital world.
The year was 2015 and I had been studying, practicing, and teaching yoga for over 20 years. I also had a desk job at the tech company Lynda.com, which at the time was a fast growing company with about 500+ employees. As my corporate demands grew, as many of you in the tech industry can relate to, I found it hard to attend lunchtime yoga or make it to the gym as I had previously become accustomed to.
I knew if a wellness junkie like me couldn’t find time to take so much as a break to get outside, there must be others in the same boat. To bring back balance to myself and others, I started streaming live 10-minute wellness breaks for my fellow employees. Word got out, and soon staff from all over the globe was logging into my video sessions to grab a moment of meditation and movement in the middle of their day. In less than a month, my twice-a-week sessions reached over a 100+ attendees with a waiting list to join.
It was then that I realized I could use technology to work for and not against my wellness goals, and those of others. It was from here that Desk Yogi was borne. So many of today’s industries have shifted toward a workforce that is tied to their desks — and screens — but our need for movement and mental breaks hasn’t gone away. I decided to use this very technology to reach folks right where they were located and bring wellness breaks to their screen.
Desk Yogi offers a comprehensive wellness platform that features state-of-the-art instructional videos on topics including yoga, fitness, mindfulness, meditation, stress reduction, healthy eating, and so much more. These videos offer wellness breaks at the convenience of the employee, at their pace, no matter their fitness level. The key is offering short videos from 3 minutes to 15 minutes allowing everyone to stop for a few minutes and move around, stretch out their neck or arms and go back to work feeling refreshed.
Technology is not going anywhere. It’s only going to get faster, more robust, and more globally accessible. Our lives will continue to become more intertwined with technology. So, instead of being dependent on it, use it to your advantage to find the balance that is right for you.
My number-one tip to get started: SET A DAILY CALENDAR REMINDER! Stop at the same time every day and form the habit of taking a short break. Start doing it once a day for 10 minutes. When you work one break into your daily routine, you might be ready to add another one. Experiment with what benefits you!
Originally published at medium.com