[Did] the desk stretch routine I actually kept up

Hatchling SkinHarmony · 2026.09.14 · Views 129 · Likes 15

I finally admitted I have basically no upper body strength, so a few weeks ago I picked something small instead of another gym plan I’d never keep up with.

A lot of us end up in the same spot from sitting at a desk all day, neck and shoulders tight by the time evening rolls around, so that’s what I built this around.

First, a 10 minute timer right after I log off, before dinner. Not a real workout, just neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, a couple wall push-offs since I can’t do a floor push-up yet.

Second, I do it standing next to my desk chair, not on a mat. The mat-and-30-minutes idea is exactly why I kept putting it off before.

It’s been about 5 weeks and the evening tightness is noticeably better, though it still creeps back on days with back to back calls. Still the first routine I’ve stuck with in a couple years.

Sorry this got long, I tend to overexplain once I start typing.

Comments 4

HealthyHue09.14
OP said the mat and 30 minute thing was what kept him from starting, and yeah that tracks, but skipping the floor part completely kind of caught up with me after a while. I did the standing only version for about 2 months, just the neck rolls and shoulder stuff by my chair, and it helped the tightness but my lower back barely moved.
mossyoak09.14
both fair points, guess it depends how long before floor work becomes necessary
FreshFaceJourney09.14
Thanks for laying out the timing on this, the part about doing it right after logging off before dinner is honestly the piece I never think about. I started something similar about 3 weeks ago, just neck rolls and a few stretches standing by my desk, and the biggest issue was always finding a slot that didn’t need extra motivation later in the evening.
WellnessWanderer09.15
Following this because my husband sits at a desk all day too and his shoulders are wrecked by evening, so I’ve been trying to get him to try something small instead of another gym plan he’d quit in a week. Quick question, are you doing this on weekends too or just workdays, because that’s where we always fall apart.