As we adapt to working from home, F1 performance coach Simon Reynolds takes us through 3 exercises to make it easier. Watch the video now.

One of the things many of us have had to adapt to in 2020 is working from home. As we look for more ways to change our lifestyles to keep everyone healthy, home offices have become the norm.

And while they have countless benefits – including cutting your commute from an hour to 20 seconds – if can be tough going. Sitting still for long periods means we aren’t moving as much as we should, and that’s not good. It can create problems physically, and isn’t great mentally either.

However, there is good news. It’s a problem that’s not too hard to get on top of. Moving just a little bit every day can drastically improve how your body feels, and how you work.

We’ve enlisted the help of F1 Driver Performance Coach Simon Reynolds, who is director at Formula to Perform. He’s worked with Formula 1 drivers like Stoffel Vandoorne and Kevin Magnussen to gear up for lengthy seasons. So we invited him to our studio to help us, well, sit down better.

He took us through three simple exercises we can all do from behind a desk to make working from home that little bit easier. You can watch the video in full below.

Three exercises to make working from home easier

Trunk rotation

Sit upright on your chair with your knees bent and grounded and shoulder-width apart. Place your hands on your knees, and slide your left hand towards your hips. As you do so, push keep your right hand on your knee, and twist your body to face your left. Then, slide your hands to the opposite positions, and twist your body in the opposite direction. Repeat 8 – 10 times.

Arm raises

Sit upright in your chair with your hands down by your sides, arms facing forwards. Raise your arms out to the side until they are over your head, then return them to the original position. Don’t force this exercise outside your range of motion, and repeat 8 – 10 times.

To level up this exercise, bring your arms out in front of you until they are above your head, and return to the original position. If necessary, start by bringing your arms inline with your shoulders, and build up slowly to raising them above your head.

Squats

Stand up from your seat, ensuring your chair is secure, high and right behind you. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, and place your hands on your shoulders. Tighten your midsection, and lower yourself into your chair, bending your knees and hips. Then stand up, maintaining even weight distribution throughout.