Thinking Healthy Thoughts

This blog is a bit different from my usual writing or editing blogs, but let me tell you about something that’s been going on with me lately.

I have chronic migraines. It’s a condition I’ve had to deal with for years. Recently, my neurologist recommended physical therapy, suggesting that while the majority of my migraines aren’t caused by anything muscular, some might be connected to extended time at my desk and the associated neck strain.

Now I’m seeing a physical therapist twice a week and working on strengthening muscles in my neck and back, improving my posture, and various other things that may lessen muscle issues that can cause headaches or migraines. It won’t solve all of my problems, but it has gotten me studying recommended setups for working at my desk. Which leads to an amazing number of research rabbit holes.

But the bottom line is: as writers, we should be thinking about our physical self-care as much as we think about our characters and our plot lines.

Your Desk Set-up

I’m no doctor and certainly no expert, but since I’ve been looking at a few things I thought I’d share them with you. I’m sure most of us worry about our wrists when we type and want to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome, but did you know that neck tension and even shoulder issues can hit those of us who work at our desks all day just as hard? The ​Mayo Clinic has a guide ​to how we should be sitting at our desks so our eye-to-screen-to-wrist-to-leg ratio is correct. As a relatively short person, it’s a little tough for me to manage getting this right, and I definitely suggest having someone else check how you sit. Let’s face it, we just aren’t able to judge our own angles well.

Break up Your Time

Do you take breaks while you’re working? Do you get up and move around? Unless I set an alarm I tend to forget this. But studies show we focus better if we get up and move after awhile. It’s better for our stress, our circulation, even our ​breathing​.

If you’re anything like me and you find it hard to walk away from the screen, join me in resolving to do better. Let’s set the alarm on our phones. Find out the time that works for you- do you do better after 20 minutes then a break? 25? 30? There are plenty of suggestions for techniques on time management out there, the Pomodoro technique being one of the more famous ones. You might be like me and find that the right amount of time before you take a break depends on what you’re doing. Many little tasks or one big project?

Then get up and walk around the house. Walk around the block. Put a load of laundry in the machine. Wash a dish. Do five minutes of yoga. After a couple of these sessions, take a longer break from the screen. Maybe that’s when you have a meeting or run errands.

Does it Work for You?

Let’s all try it this month and see if it makes us more productive. I’d love to hear how you do- or if you’re already doing something that works well, what do you do? Email me and let me know, comment here on the blog. Help give your fellow writers some new ideas on what might work for them.

Remember, self-care is just as important as every other aspect of writing. Take care of the writer and you’re taking care of the story.

Are you looking for a writing coach, or developmental editor? Contact me for a free discovery call and let’s talk about your project!