Okay, this post is not only meant for bloggers, but all those who work on computers all day, which is quite a lot of people slouched in front of their computers/laptops for more than 9 hours, or so. So, it is that many people experiencing aches and pains, day after day, and doing nothing about it, because, well, there’s work to be done, blogs to be visited, articles to be written and read! Right?
This post might seem longish, but, do read it to the end.
So, to begin with, how do you sit when you sit down to work? In a chair, or on your sofa or your bed with your laptop placed on your lap? I hope you sit in a chair with the laptop placed on the table, with your back erect all the time. But, I am sure we all sit that way only for a while. Eventually, we slouch, our backs bent, necks almost craning to peep into the screens. Tell me this is how you sit and I will tell you how very wrong that is for your body.
By the end of the day, you develop a pain in your lower back and your legs, a pain in your neck, pain and stiffness in your shoulders and tired and dry eyes. Isn’t it?
But, worry not, for there are just somethings that, if you follow, will help you drive the pain away. Provided you do it every day, and not just today and tomorrow! So, let’s begin!
Things to remember while working on your computer:
1.SIT WITH YOUR BACK ERECT and feet flat on the floor, or placed on a footrest, thighs parallel to the ground and wrists in line with your forearms. If you wish to sit on your bed, at least do not sit in a reclining position, with your back resting against pillows. Sit erect, place the laptop on a laptop table.
2. DO NOT SIT FOR LONG. Time yourself. Sit for about 45 – 50 minutes and then just switch off the computer and go for a walk. Complete some chores around the house, or walk around your house/ workplace. But do take a 5-10 minute break and WALK. Exercise your legs.
3. MAKE SURE YOUR NECK IS NOT BENT OVER THE KEYBOARD and keep your shoulders relaxed. Some people have the habit of flicking their neck side to side in quick movements when they sense some stiffness in their neck. Please do not do that!
Instead, do a few neck exercises: Sit cross-legged on the floor, or in a chair, but sit with your spine erect. Turn your face upwards and then slowly bend down as if to touch your chin to your chest(5 times). Then, look from side to side (5 times), again do it slowly. Next, bend your head as if trying to touch the ear to the shoulder. Don’t actually touch your shoulder, just bend, as slowly as you can– 5 times on both the sides–right to left.
4. EYE CARE: We tend to stare at our screens and forget to blink. Blinking cleans the eyes and keeps them moist. So, blink, consciously. Every 20 minutes, look away from your screen and stare at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Remember this 20-20-20 rule. Or. Look out of your window.
When you take your hourly breaks and after you have had a walk, sit straight in your chair and do these two eye exercises:
Blinking- Squeeze shut your eyes tight and open them wide, instantly. Squeeze them shut, again, and open them wide. Follow it 10 times.
Palming: Rub your palms together till they feel warm and then place them lightly on your eyes. Slowly count till 100 and feel your eyes relax. Wash your eyes as many times as you can with cool water. I use Refresh Tear Drops, thrice a day, to keep my eyes feeling fresh.
5. SHOULDER EXERCISES for stiff muscles give your shoulders a chance to relax and unwind (you might sit erect and all, but you won’t even notice when you slouch!). You could do these exercises after the neck exercises.
Lift your shoulders and move them backward, as if trying to touch the shoulder blades to each other. Then, bring them down and then move them in the front, making a complete circle with your shoulders. Go slow. Do this a few times- clockwise and anticlockwise. Then, once your shoulders are relaxed, lift them up to your ears and ‘drop’ them down in their original position. Again, do it slowly, for a few times. Breathe easy.
Each time you take a break, follow it up with the ‘Blinking’ and ‘Palming’ exercises, and the shoulder exercises. Push your shoulder blades towards each other to stretch those muscles to relax them, every now and then. The pain that you are bound to experience from stiff shoulders when you wake up every morning, will only increase every day if you don’t take care now.
6. WORKOUT FOR WRISTS: Your wrists could also stiffen from being in the same position continuously. Rotate your wrists a few times, slowly, clockwise and anticlockwise. Your fingers, too, need to be exercised regularly. Open your palms, spread out your fingers and then close them into a fist. Do it a few times, slowly.
The eye, neck and shoulder exercises don’t take more than 15 minutes, so, I would suggest doing these every morning, as soon as you wake up. Here are a few more eye exercises you could do before moving on to the neck exercises.
Try and go for a walk every day–morning or evening–for at least 30 minutes. Pay attention to your breathing when you walk and enjoy the fresh outdoor air. After being cooped up inside the house, or office, all day long, you need the workout.
I have stressed on the need for going “slow” while doing every exercise because you need to be slow and not in a hurry to finish it off and get back to your work, or tense your muscles or joints, unnecessarily. Be gentle and caring towards yourself, while exercising, for the simple reason that it’s your body, not a machine that won’t feel pain or get hurt.
Follow these simple exercises regularly and watch the pain recede. Of course, it won’t vanish completely in a matter of days, but eventually, it will subside. If the pain continues, do visit a physiologist or consult a doctor, but please, do take care of yourself.
That’s it for today, for my hour is up and it’s time for me to go for my walk.
Take care, you all!
Love,
SHILPA…
Like it, Pin it!
Its advisable to stretch your legs and relax your neck every one hour. This also gives rest to eyes. I use Himalaya eye drops during the day to relieve eyes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Shilpi, it makes a lot of difference stretching regularly. I use Refresh Tears twice of thrice a day.
Thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
This comes at the perfect time for me as I battle a case of phone-fingers and a strained neck. Thumbs up!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drop the phone, Rapti, and pick up a book, instead! That’s what I did! And, it feels great, for my body and my mind. 🙂
LikeLike
Same pinch! I’ve been catching up on my reading while praying hard for a machine that can translate my thoughts into a word document for me 🙈
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀😀👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice tips Shilpa. We tend to forget these way to often.
https://natashamusing.com/2018/09/moon-boon-friday-fictioneers/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, Natz, We have become so forgetful because of all that’s going on in our lives. And, most of all, it’s all related to our health.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great advice as always Shilpa. The only problem is that whenever I take a break I reach out to some sinful snack and make the break unhealthy 😦 I know I should take a glass of water instead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! That’s a universal problem, Sunita. I too get tempted to reach for some snacks during my breaks, but I have to push myself away from those and walk away!
LikeLike
I should follow it too !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your post will surely correct many bloggers postures. I need to stop resting on my pillows 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww….please do that! The back suffers, you know?
LikeLike
Great tips for bloggers.. We think we are just blogging but end up sitting at the computer for long hours. Will follow your tips, Shilpa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
DO follow, Anshu. I do it so my blogging doesn’t suffer. 🙂
LikeLike
A very apt post for the bloggers. These easy exercises can make us feel relaxed and will definitely help in increasing our productivity. Will surely follow ur suggestions #readbypreetispanorama
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect post at perfect time.. Surely gonna try some for my strained fingers n neck as m always on my mobile
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do try it out, Yogita! Take care!
LikeLike
This is the most relevant post for now! Following all the tips going forward!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Surbhi! I know how much I need to remember these myself! 🙂
LikeLike
I take a break every 25 minutes or so to stretch and walk around. Else I get shoulder and neck pain.
Great tips about palming. Will do it from now on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You really take good care of yourself, Preethi!
Thank you for visiting !
LikeLike
Much needed reminder Shilpa. Hope to Keep all your points in my mind henceforth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I try to do a few of these exercises as often as I can. And my Fitbit tells me to move every hour 🙂
Excellent tips!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very helpful post to help writers and desk workers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Amrita!
LikeLike
Nice tips. How granted we take these little things. I promise to take better care of myself from today onwards. Thanks for sharing.
http://alifelessordinarywithsaurabhavna.com/2018/09/08/why-my-husband-is-not-a-male-chauvinist-and-why-that-doesnt-make-me-a-dominating-wife/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice and informative post. It is very necessary to take care of ourselves these days in order to maintain our health.
#MyFriendAlexa #DelhibloggerReads
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is!!
Thank you for visiting, Preety!
LikeLike
You know Shilpa, I’m going through another period of neck pain. This time the isn’t as bad as last time but it still is a pain in my neck! 😀 I always do the neck exercises you have give here along with neck rotation but I’m not able to get rid of it completely. What I lack is a good night sleep. When is that going to happen can only be answered by my toddler though! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It happens,Vini, My pains too make a disappearing act and then when I feel happy for having solved one problem, they return, out of the blue!
Yes, you so need the sleep, Vini! And, a good night’s sleep is one of the best cures for most of our pains. ❤
Take care, sweetie!
LikeLike
These health tips is much needed when we have to sit for hours and work on our blog
#myfriendalexa #dewreads
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will be sitting in the same place, same position for hours. Sometimes it scares me thinking what happens to my health if I continue the same way. I should start some healthy practices.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your muscles will get stiff and it will lead to aches and pains, that’s what I realised when I did the same mistake. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent pointers for everyone who sits and works on the computers, which pretty much includes all of us! The good part is that once you’ve been a ‘sufferer’ you begin to take things seriously and follow through at least some of the tips that are listed here. I learnt my lesson sometime back when I developed a severe knee pain because the height of my chair wasn’t right.
LikeLike
Very nice article, this need awareness
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
thank you for informative post ..these pointers are really helpful for bloggers …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting!
LikeLike
My husband actually suffers from stiff neck and wrist and burning of eyes. Stretching and eye drops helps when got no other way. Helpful post.
#MyFriendAlexa #momlearningwithbaby #Blogchatter
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do try out these exercises. I hope they help. And, also visit a doctor.
Thank you for visiting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed taking a break is so very important! I make sure to go for a walk every 2 to 3 hrs. Also, warning the eyes with hands feels really good especially in a chilled office environment. #MyFriendAlexa #FabScrapReads
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a very good habit, Isha! keep it up! And, thank you for visiting!
LikeLike
As you said, Shilpa, this could help not only bloggers but anyone working on the computer or at a desk.
I shall try to incorporate these tips from today. Thanks for sharing. A very sensible post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mayuri!
LikeLike
Have started feeling the pain in the wrists … need to be more careful now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please do be careful doc!! You toh have to take extra care!!
LikeLike
Doing these right after I type this… Thank you😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you! Wish you the best! 🙂
LikeLike
Blogchatter and #Myfriendalexa are treating me as a machine . I am a human that too a mom , how the hell do I manage time to read 10 blogs a day . Blogchatter can you please do my part of cooking and I can sit with my laptop ? hahaha……………………
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is amazing how a few easy activities and habits can keep us from getting fatigued! I don’t spend as much time as i used to at the computer these days and it has done me a world of good.
Great tips here, Shilpa! thank you for sharing.
LikeLike
Vidya, I need these tips for myself, too! 😛
Thank you!
LikeLike
Haven’t seen anyone taking our health into concern on here, so thank you for the post 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a very useful post, Shilpa. I do take care of some points – especially my sitting position and eyesight. In our school, we were told to sit (tattar which is gujju word for) straight, so I more or less sit straight and also I am very obsessed about my eyes so take care to take frequent breaks. But didn’t know about the wrist part – will do those exercises as instructed. I would also like to include Drinking water – people tend to forget to drink water when they are working. So either keep a bottle at the workstation or keep alarms so that you can catch a break while drinking water.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful tips Shilp, and a much-needed post. Sitting long hours on the laptop has started taking a toll on my health lately, will definitely follow your suggestions. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you,Vartika! We need to remind ourselves that work is important, but our health is much more important.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are some useful tips which will help everyone including me . Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am glad you found these useful, Priya!
Thank you for visiting!
LikeLike
Pleasure
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
I am also a healthcare blogger, as we know that we should care about our health, because nothing is important more than heatlh, and it is useful article for me, so thanks to post this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes…the old saying, “Health is Wealth” will always hold true. Health needs to be made the priority if we wish to live happy lives.
Thank you for visiting! I am glad you liked this post 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No issue at all, I can understand your thinking about health, and keep doing this work, I am glad to receive your reply, Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks to you, too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person