ChickSpeak

Waking up at noon only to spend the rest of the day under the sun by the pool, hanging out with friends, and doing whatever I pleased because it was summer time and I was at liberty to live these warm weeks between semesters staying up late, fishing off the dock at the lake, and having limitless, pure fun. I could do all of this without the worry of working and having virtually any responsibility. This fairytale life has certainly seemed to have vanished to a land far far away.While some of us are locked away in the dungeon of summer classes, the vast majority of us are out slaving away at whatever summer job we could find. Whether you are busting your toosh waiting tables, sitting at a desk answering an ever ringing phone, or standing in one position behind a register ringing up a never ending line at the local grocery store, your body is put in stressful positions that can leave you feeling a little less like the princess version of Cinderella and more like the hard working gal she was prior to that.

The hard working girl will find herself in at least one of three positions. Each of these positions, if maintained for hours, can cause unwanted stress to major joints in your body. What’s the resolution? The answer is stretching. See if you find yourself in any of these stances.

Standing

Standing still for hours on end adds pressure to you knees and lower back. You’ll naturally begin to shift weight from foot to foot. This helps balance the pressure added to your lower back. Also, if you have a shelf or something to prop one foot on this will relieve the muscles and tendons surrounding your lower vertebrae.

While doing this roll your ribcage and hips forward in a crunch like move. This allows your vertebrae to separate and realign. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat as necessary. It’s very important that you stand on a cushioned rubber mat. If one is not provided for you, request one.

It is required in most states that employees having to stand on the job have one. It’s also necessary to wear comfy shoes. Purchase some inexpensive shoe inserts that support your heels and arches. Dr. Scholl’s have great inserts for both regular and dressy shoes.

Walking or Moving

If you have a job that requires you to be up and moving, then you are at less likely to feel stiff and frozen in one position but are at a higher risk for injury due to the nature of your job and work environment.

Always use proper lifting techniques even for light items. Lift with your legs by bending them and never twist your body when holding something. Whenever you lift something without using these techniques you can do irreparable harm to your back. Also be aware of slippery floors, and use a sturdy step ladder when needing something off of a high shelf. 

The stress level for a job like this can sometimes be rather high causing the muscles in your neck and especially shoulders to become tense. Take your hands and lace your fingers together palms facing outward. Push directly outward in front of your body making your arms straight and parallel to the floor. Drop your chin to your chest separating your shoulder blades and hold for 15 seconds. Then put your hands clasped behind your back. Roll your shoulders back and push your chest slightly forward while pushing your hands toward the ground. Hold for 15 seconds. 
 

Sitting

You may work at a place that has you sitting all day. Most of these jobs require a computer screen in front of you. If this is the case you will want to make sure to stretch your eyes.

Every 20 minutes take a break from the screen and make yourself look at something that is approximately 20 feet away. Focus on it for 20 seconds then resume what you were doing. Also it is important that if you are typing for a prolonged period of time that your keyboard is low enough so that your arms are bent at a 90 degree angle. This helps prevent carpal tunnel.

Also, once an hour let your arms hang down, dead weight, by your sides. Do this for about 1 minute. This allows the muscles in your forearms to take a break. You may not find yourself typing all day, rather driving. If this is the case you will want to use the arms rests in your car if you have them. If not, rest your arms in your lap and hold the bottom of the steering wheel.

Use cruise control if it’s available to you. If not, wear comfy thick soled shoes. If you press down on the pedal for hours over a period of time it can lead to having stress fractures in the small bones in your foot.

It’s a great idea to stop once an hour (if you have to drive for many hours on end) and stand up reaching toward the sky. Hold this for 15 seconds then bend over and touch your toes holding this position for 15 seconds. Also if you have a big enough chair and especially if you are driving, invest in a lumbar support cushion which can be bought at Walgreen’s and Walmart.

Another very important area to stretch is your face. You may have customers handing you the kid’s nasty booger filled tissue, or you may be serving a rude know-it-all guest, or you may just be tired and want to go home, but even if you don’t feel like it, smile. It takes less muscle involvement to smile than it does to frown, and even if you have to make yourself, smiling naturally makes you feel better. So peel back the corners of your mouth and reveal those pearly whites.

Note: Important Information

Know what your state laws are for employees. You have certain rights as a hard working girl. Look at this link to find out about what the U.S. Department of Labor has to say about you as an employee.

Although spending your summer vacation working may not be your ideal fairytale adventure, you’re at least able to work. By following these tips and techniques you’ll be feeling like you’ve been touched by your fairy godmother.

Fatima Meadows is a Pre-Professional Biology major at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She one day hopes to be a Physician’s Assistant and write for a medical journal. She loves taking random road trips with her fiancé.