10 crucial desk exercises for designers

The right desk exercises can do wonders for your posture if you spend long hours working at a computer. Many artists and designers spend a lot of time at a screen, and perhaps even more so during periods of lockdown. You might not consider stopping to do desk exercises when you're busy working on a project, but all that time hunched over a screen can spell bad news for your posture and for the overall health of your back.

Taking regular breaks from the screen is vital, but protecting your back and your posture requires more than just a quick pause. With many creatives likely to continue working from home even as lockdowns start to ease, it's time a good time to invest in upgrading your setup, for example by using the best office chair and the best desk you can afford or using one of the best standing desk converters. 

Having the right accessories will also help, so you might want to consider using a laptop stand or getting a second screen (see our best monitors roundup for 4K monitor options).

But even with the best office setup possible, you can still end up feeling stiff, tired and sore if you don't take time out to do some proper desk exercises. What are the best movements to relieve tension and improve your posture? We've put together a handy infographic containing 10 simple desk exercises to help. You could even consider scheduling these exercises to do throughout your day – we certainly have. 

Click on the image to see the full-sized graphic, created especially for Creative Bloq by Simon Middleweek.

Essential desk exercises infographic

Want to adopt more healthy habits in 2021? Make sure you check our guide to mindfulness apps and the best productivity tools to help you work smarter. 

Read more:

• Best monitor arms: Get your screen setup spot on
• Best office storage solutions: Sort your organisation
• Best standing desks: Stay on your feet to get healthy