Progressive Muscle Relaxation

If you spend as much time on the computer as I do, whether sitting on your bed with a laptop, or in a chair behind a desktop, then you know that when enough hours pass your muscles begin to complain. Personally, my neck muscles lock up and begin to ache. When muscles are too tense for too long, they can make you miserable, and in my case, even cause a headache. When that happens, I'm eager to get off the computer and I don't get as much done as I initially planned and my day is ruined. (Rather the next day is ruined because I have to make up for what I didn't get done...)

By accident, I recently came across some old notes of mine from high school about progressive muscle relaxation. I think they're from a health book I was studying, but I remember I wrote it down because it was useful, and boy am I glad that I did! The last thing you want is muscle cramps from sitting behind the keyboard for too long. Not only is it annoying, sometimes it cam be downright painful. Often when you think you can sleep it off, it's ten times worse in the morning.

If you're in need of some muscle relaxation, and don't have another pair of hands handy (handy, get it? I kill myself...), then try these simple steps.

1. Sit yourself in a comfortable chair and make sure that your arms and legs are uncrossed.

2. Beginning with your forehead and working down to your toes tighten each muscle group in your body, hold for 10 seconds and relax.

- Forehead: Wrinkle your forehead by trying by trying to touch your eyebrows to your hairline.

- Eyes: Squeeze your eyes closed as tightly as you can.

- Mouth: Form a frown with the corners of your mouth.

- Shoulders: Raise your shoulder up to your ears.

- Upper Arms: Bend your elbows and tense your upper arm.

- Hands and Forearms: Tightly clench your fists.

- Back: Gently arch your back.

- Stomach: Tighten your stomach muscles.

- Hips: Tighten your hips and buttock muscles.

- Thighs: Squeeze your legs together.

- Toes: Curl your toes under as tightly as you can.

3. Now, here's the tricky part... Tense all the muscles in your whole body at once and hold for 10 seconds.

Did you do it? If you did, then it might be a little late for me to point out that doing this in front of other people might make them question your sanity. Either way, do you feel more relaxed? Good! Now you've just extended your computer time by at least an hour.