Get more exercise during the programming workday

After years of sitting and programming, I’ve started using a stand-up desk. And now, I’ve added one more habit to stay a little more mobile during the workday.

I’ve added a global Mercurial commit hook that suggests exercise every time I make a mercurial commit. Here’s the code:

#!/bin/bash

RANDOM=$$$(date +%s)
COUNT=$((RANDOM % 15 + 5))

EXERCISES=(
  "push ups"
  "crunches"
  "burpees"
  "curls"
  "upright rows"
  "russian twist"
  "leg raises"
  "dips"
  "superman"
  "calf raises"
  "squat"
)
EXERCISE=${EXERCISES[$RANDOM % ${#EXERCISES[@]} ]}

echo -e "Commit reward: \e[01;34m $COUNT $EXERCISE \e[00m"

I added it to my global .hgrc file as a hook, and now I get a recommendation for an exercise eat time I commit.

If you’ve got space (or if you’re in a home office), you can add a few basic supplies that will offer you some additional options:

• TheraBand Latex-Free Resistance Bands - tie these to something solid and do some rotator cuff exercises.
• Foam Roller to work on your upper back posture