As a tech professional, you probably spend most of your day sitting in front of a computer. While this may be great for your career, it's not so great for your health. But don't worry, there's a simple solution: EXERCISE!

Recently I've been going to the gym as an almost daily activity and let me tell you, besides the excitement of a possible summer body, it's been a worthwhile experience. My mind's clearer, I utilize energy more efficiently and workplace creativity is at a real high.

It's no news that having a sedentary lifestyle (as opposed to an active lifestyle) is a major contributor to some unwelcome heart and body-weight illnesses. Incorporating regular exercise into your routine can have numerous benefits for your physical and mental health. Some doctors recommend that regular exercise helps flush bacteria out of the lungs and airways–reducing the risk of the common cold, flu, and other illnesses.

Physical activity strengthens your immune system–making you less susceptible to whatever bug is going around the office (COVID we're looking at you). But the benefits don't stop there. Studies show that our mental firepower is directly linked to our physical routine. Regular exercise can improve concentration, sharpen memory, speed up learning, prolong mental stamina, enhance creativity, and lower stress. And let's not forget about the mood-boosting effects of exercise.

Feeling irritable is no longer simply an inconvenience when your job requires you to build interpersonal connections and foster collaborations. So maybe the cure for that pepper body could be a quick routine jog. A not-so-popular benefit of exercise is the spiritual benefit (I can't count how many times I've shouted "God") while the weight of a barbell is about to crush me when my arm muscles failed, during a workout session...but I digress.

If you don't have time to hit the gym, don't worry! There are plenty of exercises you can do at home without any equipment. Using just your body weight, you can create a total-body workout that fits your needs and abilities.

Some great exercises to try at home include bridges, chair squats, knee push-ups, stationary lunges, planks, and downward dog. You can also try supermans, push-ups, contralateral limb raises, bent knee push-ups, downward-facing dog, bent-knee sit-ups/crunches, push-ups with single-leg raise, front plank, and side plank with a bent knee.

And since this is not a fitness site, a quick Google search on these would help guide you through a proper workout session. Before your daily routine, give these exercises a try and get moving!

So next time you're feeling overwhelmed at work, take a break and go for a walk, stretch, or hit the gym. Your body (and your boss/team lead) will thank you.