It’s not easy being a writer, even at the best of times. For starters, you’re always looking at your work and thinking, ‘is this really any good’? That issue - imposter syndrome - might never go away, so you better get used to it. There is another issue, however, and that is just be being a writer you might be inadvertently causing yourself health problems. Below, we take a look at some of the more common conditions that writers can suffer from, and how they can limit the pain.
Source: Pexels.com
If you’re a writer, there’s no better feeling that getting into the groove and writing page after page of a manuscript that you hold close to your heart. That’s definitely a good thing for your creativity and your book, but what about your poor wrists, who are typing thousands of words without a break? Repetitive Strain Injury can affect all people who have to use computers for long periods of time, including writers. If you’re beginning to feel pain in your wrist or hands, you might want to start doing some wrist exercises before you begin your writing session. Wrist strengthening devices that build muscle in the hands, wrists, and forearms will also reduce the pain.
Back Issues
A ten-hour writing session, whether you’re using a computer, typewriter, or pen and paper, will yield many thousands of words. Great! But you’ll also have been sitting there for ten hours, and if you do this often enough it won’t be a surprise if you eventually suffer from back issues. If you’re suffering from back pain and other musculoskeletal issues caused by improper sitting, then contact a company like Waconia Family Chiropractic and get back to your productive, creative best. While it’s mostly sitting that does the majority of the nasty work, some experts are beginning to think that standing might not be much better, either...darn!
Source: Pexels.com
Eye Trouble
You’re intensely focused on the task at hand, which is making sure every sentence is just about perfect. Unfortunately, that means you’ll be pushing your eyes to the limit. Staring at anything for too long isn’t good for you, but a digital screen close to your face can actively cause you troubles. If you’re feeling the need to put eye drops in or rest your eyes at the end of each day, you might be suffering from eye strain. Solution? Every twenty minutes, take a break and start at a point twenty feet away from you for twenty seconds. It’s known as the 20/20/20 rule - your eyes will thank you for it!
Mental Health
It’s extra important that you keep tabs on how long you’re spending in front of your laptop screen while you write because too much screen time can cause mental health problems that can quickly spiral out of control. Staring at a screen and clicking around the internet looking for a reference for a fact you want to include in your book can cause sleep troubles, stress (as if writing wasn’t stressful enough!), and depression. If you have any of these symptoms, go back to good old pen and paper for a while
No comments:
Post a Comment