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Blogger First Aid Kit

Blogger First Aid Kit

Break glass in case of emergency.

Blogging might be relatively safe when compared to an underwater electrician, but every job comes with its own set of hazards. Here are some measures to take to protect yourself while blogging.

EYES: Follow the 20/20/20 rule. This is something I do for a week and then forget about – but it’s key. For every 20 minutes you’re staring at the computer or a document – look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. More.

HANDS: If you are suffering from mild to moderate carpal tunnel symptoms, it is more important than ever to stretch your wrists. Simple things like flexing your hand in different directions and making a fist can help tremendously. Blogging is just like running, you should always do your warm-up exercises before getting started. Exercises.

BACK: I’m not sure how fast you write your blogs, but if you’re a slow typer, you could be sedentary for quite some time. A simple seated twist yoga exercise, conducted with your legs, can help alleviate pressure on your spine. Watch it here.

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STRESS: The real silent killer. Perhaps your blogging about an annoying topic. Or simply frustrated that you can’t think of a good topic or get that Web traffic where you want it. There are 50 things you can do right now to chill out.

What’s in your blogging first aid kit? Band-Aids, anyone?

View Comments (6)
  • Hours staring at a computer screen aggravates my already dry eyes, so I keep a bottle of Systane (lubricating eye drops) in my desk drawer to help keep my eyes comfortable while I am at the computer.

    Hands can take a beating at the keyboard too…I keep a nailfile, bottle of nail strengthening treatment and a bottle of hand lotion in my drawer as well. It’s hard to concentrate on your writing when your skin feels like paper from tapping away at keys all morning or you have a broken nail!

  • Great post, Andrew. This is something I badly needed. Sometimes you just zone out and stare at the screen motionless for hours at a time. Thanks for the reminder to take care of yourself.

  • Some helpful tips, without a doubt.

    I’ve never heard of the 20/20/20 rule, and the 50 things to reduce stress are great too. Personally, I like to take a weekend away away from blogging every week. It helps rejuvenate my body and mind. :)

  • Such a great article. I already use some of these tactics to battle the gruelling hours in front of my comp.

    I think another good mention is the negative effects of laptop. They’re great for people on the move, but are much worse on the back because the screen is not eye-level (forcing you forward and straining your spine).

    It’s best to get a free standing desktop PC (or mac) and ensure the screen is eye level.

    Thanks for the pointers!

    Ciao for now,
    Lilly

  • Good post Andrew! I follow most of these tips and thus have managed to work on PC for years without any problems. I generally take five minutes break after working for about 30 minutes on my desktop computer. One must also take care of ergonomics – the body posture, wrist position, the position of legs (should not be one on other) and the monitor and chair height etc. when working on a computer.

    The site: http://www.ehow.com referred by you for the back exercise looks to be a good all-round resource.

    Thanks!

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