When I am at a computer for long stretches of time, I tend to get snack-ish. It’s a guarantee. I will crave sugar and chocolate and chips and soda and everything unhealthy I can imagine. When I used to work in an office, I gained ten pounds in a yearContinue Reading
If you go too long without taking time off—real time off—you run the risk of suffering from cerebral congestion, which sabotages creativity and imagination.
I don’t like to sit still, so I find that I write in spurts, and sometimes standing up at an improvised desk (my laptop atop a fat dictionary atop a short bookcase). I make all my phone calls when I’m out walking. I need to get outside and move, otherwiseContinue Reading
Do you struggle with back pain? The American Chiropractic Association states that one-half of all working Americans suffer back pain symptoms each year. Talk to any serious writer or office worker and you’ll likely hear about back pain. “Like many writers,” says author Jana Richards, “I spend a lot ofContinue Reading
I do suffer from a degenerative disc and that gives me quite a lot of pain some days. I also get lost in my writing and forget to cook meals for myself. For my back, I keep changing positions. I make reasons to jump up and move around at leastContinue Reading
Famous writers have known throughout the centuries that walking is a great exercise for many reasons. Research has linked it to a lower risk of diabetes, stronger bones, a healthier cardiovascular system, reduced body fat, increased energy, and a more focused mind. Long before modern studies revealed these benefits, though,Continue Reading
As if our culture wasn’t already obsessed enough about aging, now comes “computer face,” a new term to describe the premature aging effects of sitting for hours at the computer. What is computer face, and do you need to worry about it destroying your looks before your time? What IsContinue Reading
A few things came to mind when I started thinking about the physical challenges of writing: the slouchy way I sit at my desk for example, or that unpleasant feeling of being mentally but not physically tired. However, if I had to pick the biggest challenge, I think I wouldContinue Reading
Author and visionary Steven Pressfield recently addressed a question from a hardworking writer. (Read the entire post here.) In essence, the question was: “When do you know if you need to return to a project and polish or start anew?” The writer had put years into his first novel, seekingContinue Reading
I’ve suffered from allergies for years, but it’s only been in the last decade or so that they’ve manifested into painful and frequent migraine headaches. Spring, summer, fall, winter—doesn’t matter. For the longest time, regular over-the-counter antihistamines worked fine for me, but then came the day when the regular dosageContinue Reading
Sitting kills. I know. I’ve experienced the back pain, stiff muscles, and headaches. But it gets worse. In addition to fostering weight gain and too much padding on your backside, sitting can actually shorten your life. Proof Sitting Kills A study published in 2009 looked at sitting time and mortalityContinue Reading
My mom got me these cool hand warmers for Christmas one year. They stretch up over your wrists and forearms to help keep your fingers warm while you’re typing. Handmade, they were a find from a local farmer’s market. As we go into the the fall and winter seasons, thereContinue Reading