The Exercises You Should Do Every Day

These three moves will help you look better and feel better

There are some exercises that you just can't get enough of. Three such examples: wall slides, thoracic rotations, and single-leg hip raises. Unusual names, yes. But while you may not be familiar with these moves, chances are, you should be doing them every day. Why? Because they help offset the toll that working on a computer—or even a mobile device—takes on your body. Specifically, that toll is poor posture, which frequently leads to neck, shoulder, and back pain. And because sitting and slumping as you type, surf, or text can consume hours of your day, the more frequently you perform these moves, the better. The best part: You can do these no-weight, no-sweat exercises anywhere.

Stop what you're doing right now, and imagine that there's a string attached from the ceiling to your chest. Now imagine that the string is being tightened, pulling your chest closer towards the ceiling. If you were sitting with good posture, your chest wouldn't rise much. But if you're like most people, you just raised up a few inches. (You can also remind yourself to sit as tall as you can.) This is a good way to see how much you slump. And if you do, you should start doing an exercise called the wall slide immediately.

For best results, do 10 to 15 reps of this exercise up to three times a day. (It's easy to do in your office, and a great warmup before you lift weights.) Yes, it looks simple—and it is. But you'll love how good it makes your shoulders and upper back feel.