More Self-Care For Writers

Continuing the theme of self care and self-love for writers…Those of us who are full-time writers face a problem that can have serious impacts on health–the same for a lot of IT personnel, receptionists, and really anybody who sits for a living. A host of health issues can come out of a sedentary lifestyle. I know, I’ve had too many of them.

But it’s never too late to work on your health and incorporate some positive habits to counter the long hours sitting in a chair. While I’m not a doctor and cannot prescribe, here are some activities/habits you might find helpful. As always, talk to your personal physician to make sure they’re safe for your condition.

One: stretch throughout the day. For every hour that you sit, stretch for five minutes and, if possible, walk around for a few minutes. There are plenty of videos on YouTube for chair stretching, and it’s easy to incorporate if you set a timer. Stretching will ease the muscles.

Two: drink plenty of water. Don’t get dehydrated. This isn’t sedentary specific, but it’s important for your health. Dehydration can lead to nausea, tiredness, dizziness and a host of other issues.

Three: do eye exercises. Roll your eyes in a circular motion every so often. Look away from your computer at a longer-distance object every twenty minutes and hold your focus there for a minute or two, make certain your screen brightness isn’t so bright that it gives you headaches, rest your eyes by closing them for five minutes every hour…and if you wear glasses, make certain you’re wearing the proper prescription. I also raise the font size on my manuscripts so they’re very easy to read and it takes less effort to focus.

Four: general exercise. Move your body. Find an exercise you like–even if it’s just chair-dancing–and get moving!

Five: make certain that you aren’t eating without thinking. I’m not saying don’t snack, but make certain you don’t mindlessly keep munching, especially on junk food. It’s easy to put on weight if you don’t exercise and you sit for a living, so just be aware of what you’re putting in your mouth. Ask yourself if you need a good meal rather than a string of junk food at the keyboard.

Six: sleep…get enough sleep so you don’t just sit there, staring at the screen. If you’re too tired, you won’t get anything done, so try to get a decent night’s sleep. Not only will it help your general health, but it will help your body and mind.