Monday, September 24, 2012

Is Writing Hazardous to Your Health?






Is Writing Hazardous to Your Health?

(And if it is, what you can do about it.)


Stress, inactivity, and a diet lacking in the proper nutrients, are three culprits often blamed for making any number of diseases worse, and even making us vulnerable to them in the first place.
            As writers, we hit the trifecta of bad health habits every day! We sit in front of our computers for hours, neglect healthy eating habits, and are in constant angst with a plethora of stressors: writing a certain amount a day, finishing our projects, formatting them, proofing them, marketing our wares.
            We need to be alert to these dangers and find ways to take care of ourselves. It’s difficult to focus on good writing if you’re feeling rotten.
Some ways to take care of yourself:
1.     Build time into your schedule for exercise. Find something you enjoy, (I recommend walking. Preferably with a dog!), and build time into your schedule for it every day.
2.     Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. I know, then you’ll have to get up and pee a lot, but that short trip to the bathroom will give your circulation time to regroup.
3.     Set a timer for every 30 minutes. Stand up and do something that takes your eyes off the computer screen and moves your body. If it helps, have a list of things other than writing you can fit in.
4.     While sitting, routinely move your legs and stretch your arms. There are lots of “chair exercises” available online. Find a few you can do while writing and add them to you goal list. If money is no object, look into the new treadmills with computer stands.
5.     Get in the habit of taking deep breaths, the kind from your abdomen up, at least five an hour while you’re sitting.
6.     Most writers’ stress comes from the feeling of being overwhelmed with all the things we need to do in a day. Use goal setting to keep on track, and refer to it often. It’ll keep procrastination to a minimum, and you’ll get those projects done with a lot less stress.
7.     Make sure to get enough sleep! Try to stay on a consistent, seven to eight hours sleep a night schedule. Resist the lure of writing into the wee hours of the night unless you have enough time to make up for it the following day.
8.     Don’t overlook fun! Make time for your loved ones and the things you enjoy doing. Especially those things that keep you active.
9.     Keep your kitchen stocked with healthy snacks you can enjoy at your desk. I understand it’s a lot more gratifying to grab a bag of chips, a quick cookie, or a candy bar, but remember the nutrients in one banana will keep your brain functioning at peak for hours!
10. Give yourself a pat on the back. Get out of the habit of negative thinking. When you find that you’re beating up on yourself, take a minute and write down all the positive things you’ve accomplished.

Dear readers,
I so enjoy receiving your comments. Add your blog info when you comment, so I can visit your site, too.
            Being over fifty, I find these tips even more critical and wanted to share them with you. I talked about goal setting last week, and I’d advise adding some of these to your list. The great thing about writing for us older authors is it’s something we can do even from a wheelchair or a bed! But we don’t want to rush ourselves to that point, do we? So let’s stay aware of our needs while we work at our writing. It pays off!
Thanks for stopping by,
Marla

24 comments:

  1. Thanks for this post, Marla. You're so right. It's so easy to get caught up at the computer screen for hours at a time and then realize how awful I feel without those stretches or walks. I'm trying to devise a strategy now for ensuring I take those breaks. Also, with rheumatoid arthritis, it is even more important in maintaining tolerable pain levels. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, yes! It's even more important for you, Terry. RA can be debilitating and the meds tough to take. And you must keep moving! I have arthritis in my thumbs and worrying about my typing skills if it gets much worse!
      May need a secretary someday. LOL
      Attitude means a lot with any disease and sounds like you have a good one. Keep smiling, moving and writing!
      You have a lot of company.
      Take care,
      Marla

      Delete
  2. Marla, that is a brilliant post and you are absolutely right! And Terry, look after that RA - I have it too, and thankfully it's not too severe, but if you ever have problems using your mouse, try a vertical mouse (google it!) They really make a difference for aching hands and let you retain a much more natural position. Getting a decent ergonomic keyboard is a worthwhile investment too, especially for those of us who spend a lot of time on the keyboard.

    Marla, you asked for our links. My blog for writers is at www.otsbp.com and my personal blog (which can be about anything that happens to pass through my butterfly mind!)is at www.youngbyname.me.

    Thank you so much for your kindness!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I may need a vertical mouse eventually, too. I do hand exercises in the hopes it will keep the old arthritis from getting worse! So sorry to hear you are another RA sufferer. Although I've known people who were able to live with it well. Hope you continue to be one of them.
      So happy you enjoyed the blog, I love hearing from everyone.
      Take care,
      Marla

      Delete
  3. My question about starting writing late in life is, will agents/editors hold it against you because you have fewer productive years ahead of you. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Actually, I think if I were writing full time, I'd be healthier than I am at work where I'm forced to sit at a computer eight hours a day. I THINK I'd get up and go for a walk or something...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good question, Susan. And that is one reason I self-published. I don't have time to go the traditional
      publishing route. It can take decades to find an agent or a publisher!
      I have heard there is a prejudice against older writer for exactly that reason, which is strange because so many successful authors are people who got started later in life.
      I think you're right; you do have more freedom to intersperce moving with sitting at the computer. It's hard sometimes when to remember when you are really engrossed in something, that's why a timer is a good tool to try.
      Glad you stopped by, Susan. Keep writing!
      Marla

      Delete
  4. Great advice for anyone who spends a lot of time at the computer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for reading my blog! Yes, at the computer of in front of the TV, both of which I'm inclined to do, especially with the new TV season starting. It's easy to get engrossed.
      Take care and keep moving!
      Marla

      Delete
  5. Writer Dave Here, Great Post, Marla. I agree with all 10 points!
    I've even printed them off and will keep them handy for reference.
    I do my sitting in the chair exercises regularly!
    Keep Up The Good Work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Dave,
      Thanks for reading my blog. Glad to hear you're taking care of yourself!
      I have to follow your lead and post my own suggestions!
      Marla

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Thanks Patrick! Glad you stopped by and happy you enjoyed the blog.

      Delete
  7. Thanks so much for the suggestions! I write software during the day and write stories at night. Lots of computer time ;-)
    I walk the stairs every hour or so and I go for a campus walk during lunch whenever possible here in sunny North Texas.
    Simply standing and stretching does wonders for my mind as well as my body!
    Happy writing!
    garyalanhenson.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Gary,
      Sounds like you have some good habits already. Is it as dry in Texas this year as it is
      in the Midwest?
      You're right. It's amazing what getting your circulation going does for the mind. I bought a
      digital recorder to take along when I walk so I don't miss any ideas!
      Thanks for visiting,
      Marla

      Delete
  8. Really very well done blog. Jumped here from Twitter and I enjoyed reading this. I've always had good eating habits, but I tend to go full bore when writing--so your tips about resting one's eyes, and getting plenty of quality sleep, particularly when one is over forty, are extremely pertinent to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Valda!
      Yes, it's easy to forget to take care of yourself. Glad your writing is doing well! The weather has
      been so lovely here it's hard to stay at it.
      Have a great weekend,
      Marla

      Delete
  9. Absolutely! I have a similar list myself - being an ex coffee drinker (and a Clinical Nutritionist) I would add to cut down on the caffeine, this is a drug that can cause anxiety, tiredness and headaches. Who needs that? I now drink dandelion coffee, barley cup or other herbal drinks and really enjoy them.

    I also find doing something totally different with my brain such as painting, coloring with the kids or something else creative helps keep the energy flowing and exercises those brain cells in a new way.

    Great post, we all need to be reminded self care is part of the writing process, thank you!

    My blog is www.aprildanann.com and my latest book is The Pagan Diet - Food, Fast & Feast

    Have a great day,

    April Danann

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great suggestions, April! I really like the idea of doing something else that's stokes one's creativity. I started caffeine again recently and had to back off again! Gives me a great boost in the morning but over time has bad side-effects for me.
      Thanks for commenting!
      Marla

      Delete
  10. Stumbled across this on Twitter. I have definitely developed some bad habits. Thanks for the tips!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those darn bad habits! I have way too many. I am rather proud that I gave up Spider Solitaire, although that was more of a distraction habit than health related. Although, it added to my stress level, because I used it to avoid doing the things I should have been doing.
      But then, I really like the saying: Dont' SHOULD on yourself!
      Thanks for stopping in, and have a great weekend.
      Marla

      Delete
  11. The last item rings especially true and I think I'll follow your advice the next time I start to feel like I will never finish writing my book. Negative thoughts are such utter nonesense, but so hard to resist. I really like the ideas of writing down positive accomplishments. It's like when you write your fears down before speaking in public or taking a test... I just never thought to apply that technique to my writing process. Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a big problem with that, too. when I lived in Chicago, I had a friend who was a very successful business-owner. She said what kept her going was making a list EVERY night before she went to bed, of all the things she'd accomplished that day. I thought it was interesting because usually we do a list of everything we WANT to accomplish in a day, then beat up on ourselves for not doing it!
      We must keep giving ourselves kudos!
      Nice meeting you, Jeri, thanks for commenting.
      Marla

      Delete
  12. Thanks for this post. I agree and enjoyed reading your suggestions! Here is my blog! m.jameelahraoof.com/#/MY-BLOG.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jameelah Raoof @professorraoof ^^^ I mistakenly posted anonymously above. ;-)

    ReplyDelete

Please share your thoughts!