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On the assumption that the working lives (at least) of most techwriters involve a LOT of sitting and reading, and sitting and writing, I am reminded to exhort everybody to save your necks - and other body parts - by paying special attention to posture as you work.
What reminded me was coming back from a week's "vacation" during which I (and my lovely wife) assembled and packed more than 200 boxes, and wrapped/tied sundry items that don't fit boxes, and also made and applied labels to all those pieces of freight, loaded a utility van with the myriad articles and boxes that the movers wouldn't touch or that we preferred not to trust to the movers, had ourselves moved to our new house, and made a small dent (so far) in the task of UNpacking.
I spent almost every waking minute of last week standing over a box, kneeling in front of a box, or crouched low in a van. But I did almost no sitting, and no reading or typing (our internet service was in-transit for two or three days, so that contributed).
This morning, still aching mercilessly in places I didn't previously know I had places, I returned to the office, sat in my office chair, and noticed that my neck felt better than it had in many, many months (I, having been paying chiros, physios, and massage therapists for only partial relief all that time).
Since I doubt that overall physical (self-)abuse was the curative factor, I can only go with the week-long holiday from sitting hunched over a hot keyboard or a tepid requirements document.
Since I further assume that I and most of you share a similar anatomical layout and general bio-mechanics, I thought I'd remind y'all to do what yo mamma and all your teachers used to tell you. Sit up straight. Don't slouch! Also do what those lame-sounding ergo and occupational-health pamphlets have been exhorting for years: get up and move every half hour or so; bend your torso the other way for a moment or ten - stand, lean back, push your hips forward), stretch the shoulders, chest, and other bits, roll the shoulders, tip the neck (don't roll) in various directions, holding for several seconds at each extreme.
If you notice your eyes starting to get blurry, and that you are blinking a lot, try sitting up extra tall as though you had a string pulling up the top of your skull. Chances are the vision will clear considerably, within moments, as the nerves from your neck are less pinched, and the brain fog will clear a bit as well, as the blood flow to the skull-contents improves. Incidentally, the exaggerated upright posture will also encourage you to breathe more fully, which will further improve oxygen delivery to the brain.
And have some dark chocolate. Just because. :-)
- Kevin (under sub-contract to Yo Mamma)
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