Living Well | Make Stretching Part of Your Daily Routine

Make Stretching Part of Your Daily Routine

Whether your job is physically demanding or more sedentary, incorporating stretching into your daily routine benefits your overall health and well-being.

Here are some ways consistent stretching for a few minutes a day can make your everyday activities easier and more comfortable:

Improve your range of motion and increase flexibility

Regular stretching can elongate muscles and tissues, increasing elasticity and reducing stiffness.

Reduce your risk of injury and help prevent pain

Stretching can make muscles more adaptable to movement and less prone to strain or tearing.

Decrease your stress and calm your mind

Muscles tend to tighten in response to stress. Stretching can provide both physical and mental health benefits.

If you want to prevent muscle stiffness caused by sitting for long periods of time or alleviate muscle soreness caused by consistent movement, here are some stretches you can try to incorporate into your day:

Neck stretch

Sit up tall and rotate your neck to look to each side, look up and down, and put each ear to each shoulder.

Shoulder stretch

Stand with your feet hip-width apart and clasp your hands behind your back. Gently lift your arms up and away from your body.

Forearm stretch

With arms outstretched in front, alternate between pulling the palm and back of the hand towards you.

Side bend

Clasp hands together overhead. Slowly bend to one side from the hips until stretch is felt. Repeat on the opposite side. This can be done sitting or standing.