The Gigabytes of Wrath
by Raymond
July 31, 2008 . 10:53AM
Avoiding the aches and pains of working at a computer all day.
Who would’ve thought that you could get hurt from sitting at a computer for the better part of the day? Of course punching at a keyboard in a mind-numbing, fabric-covered coffin… I mean cubicle, all day can never be compared to working in a drop forge or on the deck of a deep sea fishing boat in the North Atlantic, but it does come along with its own set of issues which can turn into long-term problems.
And aside from any potential nagging physical problems, there is the fact that by not working comfortably you just may end up being crotchety and tense which can’t be good when it comes to developing a solid final product. Beware the crotchety web geek!
Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and we aren’t always going to have the best case scenario when it comes to our work environment. But we can do what we can and at least try to make it as best as possible with what we have.
Location, location, location.
Where you work is at the heart of the matter. The disgusting fact is that you’ll more than likely spend more time in your workstation than you will in your own bedroom or living room, so why shouldn’t it be as comfortable and inviting for you as those personal spaces? (Remember you have co-workers and office rules, so don’t make it too comfortable.)
If you’re employed in an office, it’s a given that you won’t have too much control over the situation, but even so, take advantage of anything at hand to make your area as comfortable as possible. Position your computing machine in the best spot to reduce neck and back strain.
The chair you are sitting on is important. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a Herman Miller, but it does need to be ergonomic and offer solid support. If not, don’t be afraid to hook it up with a foam back support. We’re going for comfort, not scoring “cool” points with the office click. Screw ‘em, it’s your back not theirs.
Take note of the lighting and how much glare it may cause on the monitors and position them accordingly. If you’re subjected to fluorescent lighting, then ask, plead or bribe the person calling the shots to have the ones in your area turned off or at least dimmed.
Get up off your butt and stare into space.
If you’re like me, you get so wrapped up in what you’re doing that eventually you become aware of some shooting pain which is why you’re grinding your teeth and all hunched over.
Try to be aware of your posture as much as possible. Your mom was right when she told you to stop slouching, because it’s not good. If you can get a foot rest, use it occasionally to help your sitting position and reduce back strain.
One of the best things to do is to take a short break at least once an hour. Get back from your station and stand up, stretch and move around. It breaks the tension in your body and can be a nice, short disconnect from what your working on which may trigger thoughts and ideas.
Looking away from your monitors is a must unless you’re all about the eye strain. This doesn’t mean that you should just sit and stare at your co-workers like a freak, because that’s too damn creepy. But periodically turning away from your monitor(s) to look at a far off focal point really helps to relax the eyes. If you have a window with a nice view, then Bob’s your uncle.
This site here has a smattering of helpful links related to working better. What do you do to make your work area more comfortable?
