"I work in tech and spend a lot of time hunched over a keyboard. I try to spend no more than 45 minutes sitting at a time to keep my posture in check. I also have a lacrosse ball at my desk to get into those juicy knots in my upper back when I want to take a break."
—Alex R.
"I keep a giant mason jar on my desk and make sure I refill it three or four times a day with water. Some people have a glasses-of-water tally posted on the wall so they can keep track and compete with each other. It's a good system."
—Ayla N.
"Good posture is so important. Active sitting engages your muscles while you sit, but I find that it also improves your mood too. When I sit up straighter, I notice that I feel more empowered, mentally and physically!"
—Hannah L.
"I follow the 20-20-20 rule. You look at your computer screen for 20 minutes, look away for 20 seconds, look back for another 20 minutes, and repeat. There is an awesome extension called EyeCare that reminds you every 20 minutes to take a break. You'll feel way better."
—Clark M.
"I learned to love standing at work. Most mornings, I bring my laptop to a high table and try to spend two to three hours a day on my feet. It just feels better. In fact, I loved it so much, I recently assembled a standing desk in my home."
—Tyler S.
"The more water you drink, the more you'll need to use the restroom, and the more walking you'll squeeze into the workday! Bonus points if you walk to the watercooler on the other side of the office."
—Kirby D.
"I'm an illustrator. I stop drawing once an hour to do a series of stretches, even when I'm on a roll. It helps with my back issues, but more importantly, it gives me a short break from the work so I can pick it back up with fresh eyes...or just change gears altogether."
—Andrew C.
"I'm trying to actually use my lunch hour. It's so easy to eat at your desk, even when you're not on a time crunch. But in the long run, using that time to take a break from thinking about work actually helps me feel more driven and focused."
—Priya M.
"Playlists help me be more productive. If I'm doing something I do not enjoy, I'll play party music to get through it; if I need to concentrate, I'll switch to classical stuff. In the mornings, I play chill beats and mellow melodies, perfect for drinking coffee. Music really makes my days better, and drowning out background noise keeps me focused too."
—Leslie R.
"I'm a big believer in responding to circadian rhythm — the natural oscillations in your energy levels throughout the day. I go outside and walk around the block during my low periods (for me, between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m., and 4:00 and 4:30 p.m.). I find this keeps me mentally sharp throughout the afternoon."
—David L.
"I try to catch a movie every Sunday night. It's a ritual. Escaping reality for a couple of hours really eases the anxiety of an impending Monday."
—Chris G.
"I have a mantra that I repeat to myself when things get stressful at work. It helps me step out of a situation, stay positive, and work with a clear head. It might seem a little hippy-dippy, but it works. Your mantra can even be something silly like 'cheeseburgers are wonderful.' Whatever makes you joyful and gets you refocused."
—Kim F.
"As a manager, I have musically themed days (Madonna Mondays, Throw Back Thursdays, etc.) that I blare to boost company morale. We're all big into music, and when Ricky Martin or Eiffel 65 comes on, employees — including myself — just can't be upset!"
—Lynne L.
"Sometimes I video-call my mom while I'm in a meeting. Then I keep working without acknowledging her. She gets really annoyed. Later I text her saying, 'I just thought you wanted to see me at work!' She's happy to get a glimpse of me, and I remember what's really important: frustrating my loving mom with technology."
—Ryan H.
All images via Thinkstock.