In the constantly connected world we live in, people are available to everyone all the time. That is, unless you’re in the British Virgin Islands and your Blackberry ‘accidentally’ falls into the water.

Being tethered to your smart phone can quite literally be a pain in the neck. We’ve all seen people with a shoulder hunched forward, neck at an odd angle, typing and talking away. It can lead to a lot of pain, because it strains the entire upper body.

And it’s not the only office behaviour that creates strain. Sitting in a chair for 10 hours per day isn’t good for us, either.

Here are some things you can do to combat tech neck:

Look up from the screen every 5 minutes or so. Better yet, bring your smartphone up to eye level.

Try to switch to a boring old office phone, or better still, a headset.

Do some easy neck stretches and exercises:

• Chin Tucks: Move your chin to your chest and hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
• Side Bends: Tilt your head to the right, bringing your ear close to the shoulder. Hold 20 seconds.

Bring your head back to the center, and then tilt it to the left, again holding 20 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.

• Side-to-Side Head Rotation: Rotate your chin towards your right shoulder. Hold 20 seconds. Bring your head back to the center, and then rotate it to the left, again holding 20 seconds. Repeat 3-5 times on each side.

Want to try some other great stretches and exercises? Get in touch for ideas!