It’s that time of year again… Christmas Shopping!! While most of us will be getting into the Christmas Spirit and festivities, it is also an activity that can take its toll on you. Whether you are braving the shops and queues or shopping online we have some simple solutions for you.
At CCC we want to make sure that you have the most enjoyable Christmas possible so here are some handy tips to take care of yourself over the Christmas Shopping period…
Braving the Shops?
- Get the correct advice and your spine checked by your Chiropractor before you embark on your Christmas Shopping. This will limit your injuries and help you to enjoy your shopping trip.
- Try to distribute the weight of your shopping bags evenly between both sides and preferably try to take bags back to your car to avoid carrying unnecessary weight for a long period of time.
- Always carry heavier loads closer to your body as holding at arms length can give the effect of the bags being up to seven times heavier.
- Take regular breaks – put your feet up and enjoy a snack during your shopping trips
- Standing in a long queue can put extra pressure on your lower back, hips and knees. Instead of looking at your phone why don’t you work on your posture exercises from your Chiropractor?
- When getting a heavy item off of the shelves, you would normally be careful, however if you are bending repetitively to get lighter items of the shelf it is still very important to be careful not to overstretch. Always remember to use your core.
Online Purchasing…
While having your Christmas gifts delivered directly to your door avoids you carrying endless shopping bags, it can causes stresses and strains when hunched over a computer or laptop for several hours at a time.
- Where possible, avoid sitting on the sofa with your laptop – it is always best to position yourself at a desk with your chair positioned to be as optimal for your back as possible.
- Unsure how to set up your desk and chair to be most optimal?
- Adjust your chair so that your feet are flat on the ground with your knees bent.
- You want your eyes level with the top of the computer screen and with your hips higher than your knees.