You wrap up your 9-5, you wind down for the night, and then as your head hits the pillow – you’re wide awake.  Sleep just won’t come.

What’s the deal?  You’re tired, you’re not anxious, you don’t have a million little thoughts running through your mind.  The answer might have to do with how being sedentary all day leads to disrupted sleep at night.

Desk Jobs = Poor Posture = Pain

Sitting all day long isn’t good to begin with.  Many people, however, compound the issue with poor posture.  They’ll sit hunched over, slouching, or otherwise ruining the alignment in their back.

All that slouching and poor posture leads to muscle and joint stiffness.  That pain carries on into bedtime even if we’re not fully aware of it.

Sedentary Life Slows Sleep

You’ve heard of the circadian rhythm – the natural wake and sleep cycles of our body.  What most people don’t realize is that it’s not just about being awake and asleep.  It’s also about moving around and getting things done.  Our bodies weren’t designed to sit all day long; they’re designed to be constantly moving throughout the day.

If we’re not putting out much energy during the day, then our bodies don’t crave the rest like they’re supposed to.  Exercise also helps to increase the amount of melatonin our bodies make.

Blue Light Overload

Screens emit what is called “blue light.”  This part of the light spectrum is great for perking us up and keeping us going – it’s why most people feel energized in the day, but then lethargic as the sun sets.

The unnatural blue light from screens (smartphones and tablets are the worst producers) tells our body that it’s time to be up and moving.  When we get too much, we’re overloaded and we confuse the body and we have trouble sleeping.

Mentally Overstimulated

Even if you don’t feel like you have a million thoughts running through your head, you probably do.  Mentally taxed, stressed out, and burdened by not being able to leave work at work can lead to nights where you lie there with sleep elusive as you think of your desk job.

Chiropractic Care is a Start

To begin with, get that body back in alignment.  That’s the starting point to ensuring that your body works for you and not against you.

Simple chiropractic maintenance can do wonders when combined with other healthy habits.

Habits that Help

Take frequent breaks from sitting.  That doesn’t mean a break from work. When you’re on the phone, pace the officer or at least stand.

Take a bigger break in the middle of the day.  Too many people move from sitting at a desk, to sitting at a table while eating, to sitting at a desk.  Go for a little walk on your lunch break.

Do some light exercises after work.  Even if you’re tired, that exercise will help wind you down.

Eat healthy.  Big heavy meals late in the day can result in diminished sleep quality as your body is spending a lot of energy breaking down unhealthy foods.

Come See Dr. Shayne Durbin – Billings Chiropractor

Let’s get you on track for a healthy life.  Come get your adjustment and we’ll figure out a maintenance plan.  No need to come in five times a week for the rest of your life – often it’s every week for a month, then monthly to maintain.

As your local chiropractor, I don’t want to overtreat, nor undertreat you.  But I do want to make sure your desk job isn’t ruining life outside of work.

Fill out the Contact Form or just give the office a call at 406-545-2128 and we’ll get you scheduled!