(8 DESKSIDE EXERCISES TO RELIEVE THE STRESS THAT COMES WITH DOING TAXES)


Whether you are a tax professional, preparing taxes for clients or if you’re a self-service, 1040-niner, the tax filing process can, and most often is very stressful. Before the stress becomes too much to bear, here are 8 exercises, that can be done at your desk or in your office, to relieve your stress, relax your body and mind, and give you a minor workout to jumpstart your system and ease your tension.

Warm-up
     First and foremost, move around! Every fifteen minutes, and at the most every          half an hour, get up and move away from the screen or paperwork. Walk around     your office, your basement, or wherever you happen to be, for 2 minutes. Keep     moving the entire 2 minutes.

Neck Rotations
    While standing, place hands on your hips with eyes closed and rotate your neck,     slowly, for 360 degrees (Linda Blair not withstanding) make the rotation slow and     deliberate. Try to touch your left ear to left shoulder, chin to chest, right ear to     right shoulder, back of head to your back. Go same direction for 3 rotations     then switch directions.

Hamstring Stretch
    Bring your feet together and reach for your toes. Actually touching your toes may not have happened since the 12th grade, but at least reach in the direction of your toes. Reach as far as you can (until you feel a mild strain, NOT pain) and hold that position for 10 seconds. A full 10 seconds! Release the stretch and come half way up, take two deep breaths and repeat. Do at least 3 of these and as many as 5. This hamstring stretch is a great way to spark your energy level and increase your flexibility as well.
 
Shoulder Rotations
    Before you sit back down, do some giant shoulder rotations. Lift your arms in     front of you (with elbows straight) and then rotate them over your head around the     back and to the front again. Do 3 rotations slow and deliberate, then 3 more at     a faster pace then repeat, going in the opposite direction.

Abdominal Knee Tucks
Sit toward the edge of your chair with your spine straight and with a slight backward lean at the waist. Place your hands on the sides of your seat for support and keeping your knees bent, raise your knees toward your chest. Perform 8-12 reps before you rest. This is a great abdominal and core exercise.

Seated Leg Lifts
Still sitting towards the edge of your chair, extend your right leg so the knee is straight and the heel is touching the ground. Lift the leg off the ground as high as you can, then slowly, lower it back down towards the floor. Stop just before the heel touches and lift the leg again. Perform 8-12 reps then switch legs.

Isometric Chest Press
Place your palms together in front of your chest with your elbows flared out to the sides to make your forearms parallel to the floor. Press your palms together, hard, for 10 seconds then rest. Perform 4-6 reps.

Deep Breathing
Finally, sit back in your chair. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Slowly fill your lungs to capacity and slowly expel ALL of the air. Repeat this at least 4 times.

 Ok, now back to the w-2’s, 1040a’s, schedule C’s etc! Don’t forget to file for the rebate that the President is giving us this year!