Death by Blogging: How to avoid this health hazard

The NY Times reports the recent cardiac arrests of three professional bloggers, 60, 50 and 41. Other bloggers report weight gain, insomnia and exhaustion.

Denise and I have noticed at blogging conferences, particularly among male colleagues, a trend toward packing on the pounds among people who earn their living at the computer.

While the NY Times tends to run with a story more for its anecdotal interest than scientific data, sitting-on-your-assets can really be a problem. More of us are earning our livings sitting at a computer all day long.

Here's what The Blog Squad does and recommends for avoiding the fat-assets problem:

1. Schedule 1 hour a day for moving your feet. It doesn't matter if you do something fun like tennis, or something you hate like the treadmill, just do it.
2. Learn while you move. Use your MP3 to listen to teleseminars while you work out, or listen to music and read while you use a cross trainer or bike. The brain learns more while you are moving your feet, so move it.
3. Take breaks at least every 90 minutes - get up from the computer and go do something else. You'll find you're more productive and your ideas will come quickly the moment you take a break.
4. Don't go to the refrigerator on your break - instead of eating something, drink something low sugar and good for you. Try the 1/2 caffeinated coffees or teas.
5. Once in a while lie down and just breathe (or meditate)... I know this sounds a bit too California for some of you, but trust me, this works for getting ideas.
6. If you can, take a nap once a day when you're feeling your most sluggish. Don't fight fatigue; a 10-20 minute nap will make your work better.
7. Once in a while, hit the ground and do as many push-ups as you can; I'm up to 30 now. It's good for your brain and your triceps will love you for it.
8. Once in a while, and only if you care about living a long time, do as many sit-ups as you can. Be gentle and protect your back and breathe.
9. Don't forget to use the phone to take 'friend-breaks.' Your social brain centers need to laugh in order not to get sick or feel tired.

Now I don't do all of these things everyday, but I do some of them every day. I try to play tennis every day, but don't always have the energy or knees.

It's not about being svelte, or a health-fanatic, or goody-goody. It's about being able to use the brain and body for as long as possible with a minimum of pain and injuries. The side benefits are all the good blogging ideas that get generated when I'm away from the computer.

What about you? How do you keep healthy if you're sitting at a computer a lot?

Comments

[Brigitte]

Thank you for the health reminder. I will print and keep next to my computer in order to implement at least 2 of them every day

Brigitte Nadeau
52 Free weekly tips / Attract more of what you want in your Life http://www.AttractGoodVibes.com

[Jeanne May]

That was a great article with lots of valuable tips! I know many of us are spending huge amounts of time and energy in front of the screen -- it's our work, our business and livelihood. Unfortunately, the trend towards a more sedentary lifestyle has been happening for quite a few years -- children spend more time inside on the computer or video games rather than outside doing physical things.

We need to build in the breaks that you suggested -- for our physical, and sanity survival.

Jeanne

[Valencia Ray]

Very pertinent and easy to read reminder of the importance of staying in balance and present. Personally, after about 90 minutes as you said, my assets get tired of sitting in one place and my brain starts to fry so I find it easy to spring out of my 'hot' seat and move about. Thanks for the tips!

[Patricia Campbell]

What a good article! I don't really know that many bloggers (at least not many that I see in person), but I have noticed the problems you've addressed with my friends that have jobs requiring lots of "computer time." And I have to remind myself to take breaks also! Good tips.

[Becky]

This is so true. I am a part-time spinning instructor as well as a blogger and internet marketer. I've been blogging for about a year my exercise time has definitely suffered because of my time spent in front of the computer. Recently I realized that I needed to stop my backslide, so I've resolved myself to the fact that I have to exercise early in the morning - 6am - before I do anything else. This gets it done, plus really charges with me with a lot of energy for the day.