Health and the Computer Professional

[Mandi]

Having inadvertently slipped housekeeping in to General Computer forum, I thought I'd deliberately bring up a subject that has been on my mind.[nbsp][nbsp]I think most of us work a LOT more than the usual 9-5 routine.[nbsp][nbsp]It is by far the most sedentary activity I've ever been involved with.[nbsp][nbsp]I certainly am thriving thanks to the mental stimulation . . . but my bod is suffering.

How do y'all deal with this?[nbsp][nbsp]Keyboarding may indeed proceed at an impressive pace, but so far I haven't actually zoomed along fast enough to hit that training heart rate zone.[nbsp][nbsp]I have started hitting the gym after dropping my kids at school, but I am really struggling with the lost time at the keyboard.

I also find that the focus this line of work takes, doesn't exactly promote healthy eating.[nbsp][nbsp]The skipped meals perhaps offsets some of the butt-in-the-chair time, but is not really ideal.[nbsp][nbsp]When I make the effort to cook something healthy, I try to make extras to reheat during my workday, but it's hit or miss.[nbsp][nbsp]At least the lack of fast food in my area keeps me from filling in our menu with that.

So . . . do y'all ever get up and away from the screen?

I don't even want to talk about mental health time away . . . vacation is totally impossible.[nbsp][nbsp]The best I can say on that front, is that I find the work so engaging and stimulating, that so far I don't find it troubling to be so chained to my clients and projects.

[Deb]

For many of us it takes serious dedication and habit forming skills to accomplish the needed task of exercise et al.[nbsp][nbsp]A skill I seriously struggle with![nbsp][nbsp]For general weight issues, well the stress along with missed meals and sleep have kept my weight down...I don't even want to discuss the flip side of what it causes though!

For those too dedicated to computers it may be wise to find a partner in crime that can join you at the gym... someone firm enough to get on your case if you start to miss the regularly scheduled times and someone close enough to not mind if you begin to chew them out for it :P

There are also silly little steps that can be taken to make a big difference.[nbsp][nbsp]As one example, Andrew and I tried to quit smoking a while back -- ahem -- we failed -- What we did accomplish was not allowing anyone to smoke in the house (shhh don't tell him if you catch me sneaking one here and there).[nbsp][nbsp]This little rule has forced us to get up and walk away from the computers many times a day in addition to pushing our bodies out into the sunlight and the moonlight.[nbsp][nbsp]Sounds ridiculous but those short 5 minute breaks throughout the day have made a huge difference in our work weeks :)[nbsp][nbsp]I imagine a similar rule about "No food by the keyboard" may also help to push the dedicated away from the PC ...

There are dozens of professional ideas of things we should do... foot rests with exercise things built in and arm stretches, and neck rolls blah blah blah... I'll save that for those who have actually accomplished it hehe.... for the rest of us..I'm certainly game for hearing your successes and failures in the area as I'm POSITIVE it's a bigger issue than many of us will admit and one that should generate good discussion and ideas.

Deb
[nbsp]- Permission to be honest granted.

[Brian]

Simple solution go to a gym that has computers on the machines.. Mine does, although I avoid them like the plague!! At any rate I try to go to the gym 3-4 times a week.

-Brian

[dank]

Ironic that the jobs which give us the most flexibility in our schedule also provide the most sedentary habits...

iDle

[Mandi]

Hmm, wondering for the first time in my life if it's possible taking up smoking would IMPROVE my health :D :D!!??

Asthma + smoking?[nbsp][nbsp]Good idea?[nbsp][nbsp]Under the right circumstances, could be![nbsp][nbsp]LOLOL . . . I think I'll pass though.

But the point about prohibiting something *necessary* from the computer area is an excellent one, and I think I'm going to quit eating here.