Don’t Skip Stretching – Easy Ways to Sneak in Stretching

Stretching. For some of us, setting some time aside for a workout is very difficult. Between work, raising families, and other commitments, it's easier to put off working out until tomorrow. But the next thing you know, a week has gone by and you haven't even stretched. And your body punishes you for it.

Here are some smart ways you can sneak some much-needed stretches into your busy schedule.

Stretch in bed.

Stretching daily is very beneficial. You don't have to roll out a yoga mat and search online for videos. A few simple moves from bed suffice.

Do you ever notice that animals, particularly cats, and dogs, always stretch when they get up from a nap or a long rest? We should be doing that too.

Stretch in traffic.

Just in case this isn't obvious... do not attempt to stretch as your vehicle is actually moving. If you are stuck on IH 35 or sitting at one of the many long lights in Austin, (or wherever you live) sneak in a few stretches.

You can mostly focus on your neck, shoulders, and arms. You can throw in a few core exercises, too.

When I am stuck on a long commute, I like to engage my core and let the curves and turns on the road challenge my core activation.

Stretching at work.

Whether you work from home or away from home, you can do a few stretches during your breaks. If you work from home, it is tempting to sit through and stay in the flow. This is great for productivity but horrible for your circulation.

Set a timer to remind you to get up and stretch every 45 minutes or so. A break as short as 5 minutes has many more benefits than sitting for long periods of time.

Stretching helps you maintain your range of motion. If you experience tightness or have poor posture, try adding some self-myofascial release. You can do this by triggering your muscles to relieve knots and adhesions.

When you have knots on your muscles and don't take care of them, you can hurt your posture. Over time, this makes things worse for you, to the point where you'll be in pain.

You should be able to do simple day-to-day activities painlessly and with good form.

Remember, stretching daily doesn't require a lot of time or props.

Thanks for reading!

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