5 Best Desk Exercises Using a Ream of Paper
Sure, there’s no shortage of fancy fitness products to buy that are designed to help make us stronger and leaner. But if you like to save money and/or keep things simple, you can accomplish a surprising amount simply using gravity and everyday objects lying around your home and/or office.
One such object is the ubiquitous ream of paper. It’s plentiful, cheap, easy to hold, and just happens to weigh an even five pounds. And besides, as we inch closer toward the paperless office, those letter-sized reams are going to eventually need a new purpose.
These “5 Best Office Exercises Using a Ream of Paper” are a great addition to our 10 Best Office Stretches and Office Exercises to Do at Your Desk and 5 Best Desk Yoga Stretches. Alternating between these desk workouts throughout your week will certainly help build a more toned version of you!
As always, make sure to consult your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen, perform each move slowly and with control, start gradually, and avoid pushing yourself too hard. If you ever feel excessive pain or discomfort, cease the exercise immediately.
Exercises to Do at Your Desk Using a Ream of Paper
1. Standing Bicep Curl
Holding the ream with both hands at your waist, slowly raise the ream up to your chin, hold for a moment, then slowly lower it back down. Make sure to keep your back, shoulders, and upper arms straight and still…bending only at the elbows and using only your biceps to do the work. Complete 3 sets of 10.
2. Seated Tricep Press
Holding the ream with both arms straight above your head, slowly lower the ream down behind your head, pause for a moment, then slowly lift back up. As with the bicep curl, keep your back, shoulders, and upper arms straight and still…bending only at the elbows. Complete 3 sets of 10.
3. Standing Front Deltoid Raise
Holding the ream with both hands at your waist, slowly raise the ream straight out in front of you until it is even with your chin, hold for a moment, then slowly lower it back down. With this exercise, your elbows and back stay straight and still, while your shoulders do the work. Complete 3 sets of 10.
4. Kettlebell Squat
Standing with your feet at shoulder-width apart, hold the ream at your chest. Keeping your chest lifted, slowly lower down until your thighs are parallel to the ground, hold for a moment, then slowly raise back up. For a little extra upper-body effort, hold the ream by pressing it between your palms instead of grabbing it with your fingers and thumbs. Complete 3 sets of 10.
5. Side Raise
Holding a ream in each hand, slowly raise your arms until they are even with your shoulders and parallel with the ground, hold for a moment, then slowly lower back down. With this exercise, your elbows and your back stay straight and still, while your shoulders do the work. For a little extra effort, keep your wrists straight so the reams extend out from your hands instead of pointing at the floor. If a ream is too heavy, try the exercise with a pair of water bottles. Complete 3 sets of 10.
We hope these suggestions help you exercise at your desk more effectively!
