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Suffering from Zoom meeting fatigue? Wondering how to get through these last hours of online learning for 2020? Engage your body. Movement stimulates circulation, and circulation carries necessary oxygen to your brain. So…movement = brain food! Repetitive movement can help improve focus by providing just enough stimulation to our brain to prevent it from wandering without distracting us from our main task. 

Here are some very simple yet effective movements you can do while seated in front of a computer screen and even when you are on a call. 

First, sit up straight, roll your shoulders up, back and down, and take a deep stomach breath by pushing out your belly button. 

While seated, keep your feet flat on the floor and your knees at a 90 degree angle. 

  • Do calf raises by raising and lowering one heel, doing the same on the other side, or raising both heels at the same time.
  • Try doing leg extensions by straightening out one leg, returning that foot to the floor and straightening out the other. With leg extended, you could also try flexing and unflexing your foot or rolling your ankle. 

If you’d like to try standing movement during a work meeting or a class:

  • Use the back of your chair for balance (without leaning on it) and do side leg lifts by shifting your weight to one foot and lifting the opposite leg out to the side with your foot flexed. Return your lifted foot to meet the other, shift your weight to the other foot, and lift that leg to the side. 
  • Try back leg lifts by putting your weight on one foot and pushing the opposite leg out behind you, raising it a short height from the floor while keeping your back straight and steady. Return your lifted foot to meet the other, shift your weight to the other foot, and repeat with the opposite leg. 

By performing these exercises slowly and controlled, no one but you has to know you are moving! And remember to breathe. Oxygen = brain food! (adapted from https://www.fitstylebyshana.com/blog/2020/6-exercises-zoom-call)