{"id":8302,"date":"2013-10-28T09:42:11","date_gmt":"2013-10-27T22:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zenashapter.com\/blog\/?p=8291"},"modified":"2018-07-31T14:48:34","modified_gmt":"2018-07-31T04:48:34","slug":"zenas-health-tips-for-writers-readers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/zenas-health-tips-for-writers-readers\/","title":{"rendered":"Zena’s Health Tips for Writers & Readers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spring is here in Sydney, which means people are starting to think about their health and fitness. Anyone who knows me well will also know I have a personal goal of living until I’m over 100 years old \u2013 I want to see it all!<\/p>\n

But as a writer and reader, I also lead a fairly unhealthy lifestyle. What\u2019s that, you say, you do too? Well how about we share some tips about how to keep ourselves healthy this spring? Not so much to look good on the outside \u2013 more to look after what\u2019s inside us. I\u2019ll start\u2026 with a refresher of some basics I do everyday to keep my writing and reading lifestyle as healthy as possible \u2013 they can also apply to anyone who works on a computer. I’m not a qualified health-anything, consult with your doctor before commencing any new health regime, etc… I’ll be happy if you get even one idea out of all this….<\/p>\n

Talk-Back<\/h3>\n

Most people who write and read a lot have bad backs. It\u2019s because we sit still so much while writing, typing or reading our stories. The solution? To strengthen your back as much as possible, and move around more. When I\u2019m at the gym (and I just use my free local outdoor gym), I use the lever chest press to strength my back. But if it\u2019s raining or I can\u2019t get to any gym equipment, I simply lie on my tummy, raise my hands by my ears and lift up my rib cage using only my back muscles. Try it! If you concentrate on each of your vertebrae in turn, your back gets a full workout. Woo hoo! There are some other great floor exercises here as well: http:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Strengthen-Lower-Back<\/a><\/p>\n

Alternatively, get a pal to give you a back massage. If you don\u2019t look after your back, it can plague you when it\u2019s time to read or create.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve strengthened your back, take a look at where you\u2019re sitting when you read and\/or write. Here\u2019s a photo of my desk. Do you see my chair and how its back curves in? That\u2019s what you need to support your back properly if you sit at a desk each day.<\/p>\n

\"My<\/a>

My beautiful desk!<\/p><\/div>\n

When I\u2019m reading, I like to sit here\u2026<\/p>\n

\"No<\/a>

No internet to tempt me here!<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you see those long thin cushions? Again, I use those to support my back. What do you use to support your back? And please don\u2019t say nothing! There\u2019s so much on the market these days \u2013 get yourself a standing desk if you want, an Aeron chair, a kneeling chair, or simply move around a bit more. Just take care of that thing \u2013 you\u2019ve got it for life.<\/p>\n

Twisty-Wristy<\/h3>\n

The other part of our bodies we writers and readers put under strain is our hands and wrists. Whether we\u2019re holding a book or ereader aloft, or wiggling that mouse around and typing for hours, our hands get put under strain, especially our wrists. So do some wrist and hand stretches! I do wrist circles regularly throughout the day and stretch by placing one hand at a time somewhere behind me and leaning back on it until I feel some tension in the right places. There\u2019s more good wrist-advice here: http:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Strengthen-Your-Wrists<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once you’ve found a stretch that works for you, have a think about improving how you read or write \u2013 for your hands. Can you get yourself an ergonomic keyboard or mouse? What about a trackball mouse? Can you rest your book\/ereader on a pillow as you read? Prevention is better than cure, right? So don\u2019t forget to take care of your hands!<\/p>\n

Hey, if you’re not using the mouse while you read \u2013 why even hold it? I rest my hand in my lap instead \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Concentration-Station<\/h3>\n

Okay, so I\u2019m just picking subtitles that rhyme now \u2013 there\u2019s no station in this section. Unless you reckon a workstation counts. He he, why not\u2026 it\u2019s a play on words and that\u2019s why we\u2019re here, right \u2013 because we love words! Now, what was I saying? Oh yes\u2026 concentration!<\/p>\n

Tell me, what do you do when your concentration wanes? Me, I reach for the chocolate, naughty me! Naughty because once I start it\u2019s hard to stop. Yum for chocolate! Whether the sugar speeds up my brain, or the effects are purely psychological \u2013 I start to refocus after a sugary snack. But it\u2019s also naughty because once I get that sugar high, I also get a craving that would have me maintaining that high all day if it could. It\u2019s the same with caffeine. The problem is, the more sugar and caffeine I consume, the harder it is to wind down later at bedtime.<\/p>\n

So, from time to time (not always \u2013 because us writers need our caffeine and chocolate!), I try different ways of finding my focus. I might:<\/p>\n