Health and Programming

jjp · Post by **jjp** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:28 pm

In my oppinion limiting stress and getting regular exercise are the most important things to keep you healthy, despite sitting in front of the computer many hours a day. Next I'd put a good monitor, sufficient lighting and a pc that isn't too noisy. Then the usual stuff about table and chair ergonomics. And last of all mouse, keyboard. When programming one doesn't type and use the mouse that much.

gamedboy · Post by **gamedboy** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 5:42 pm

Regularly walk away from the computer.

Same here too, I tend to keep a big bottle of plain water beside me, so it is like

code -> drink -> walk -> think -> code

cdkeito · Post by **cdkeito** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:10 pm

nahh!

the only way is to put something you need regularity far away,
that's your regular exercise!

ricardo_arango · Post by **ricardo_arango** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:06 pm

Well, it's a good thing so many people replied.

From what I see, this is not something that can be taken lightly. I suppose it's easy to ignore it when you're young, and healthy.

But we all age, and prevention is the usually the best cure for most health issues, so I will hopefully put all those ideas into practice. The car seat was really clever and funny. I don't have a car to break, but getting a good chair is important.

The trackball mouse seems also a good alternative to the traditional mouse, and the entire arm posture has to be correct.

Finally, doing exercise regularly and working a normal number of hours also seems to help.

So I hope this sharing has helped others as well.

reptor · Post by **reptor** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:47 pm

cdkeito wrote:nahh!

the only way is to put something you need regularity far away,
that's your regular exercise!

You could have an alarm clock which runs away from you close to your computer. So it starts the alarm and starts running... and you need to catch it to turn the alarm off.

syd · Post by **syd** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:21 am

cdkeito wrote:nahh!

the only way is to put something you need regularity far away,
that's your regular exercise!

I found the same solution, my work is far away (12km), and I regulary need to get there.

Three times a week when it's not too cold or rainy, I go to work and come back by biking, that makes a total of 75km a week. It was hard at the beginning, but it changed my life.

Nauk · Post by **Nauk** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:07 am

syd wrote:
cdkeito wrote:nahh!

the only way is to put something you need regularity far away,
that's your regular exercise!
I found the same solution, my work is far away (12km), and I regulary need to get there.
Three times a week when it's not too cold or rainy, I go to work and come back by biking, that makes a total of 75km a week. It was hard at the beginning, but it changed my life.

Using the bike for your daily errands and travels makes up for a lot, I am doing that since years too

kewur · Post by **kewur** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 7:46 pm

warmi wrote:In my case I never had problems typing ... what kills me are my eyes.

I used to have the same problem.. i realised with a bright monitor it is just tiring your eyes out , so try switching your ide's background to black and fonts to white .

At least that helped me

cdkeito · Post by **cdkeito** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:56 pm

syd wrote:...my work is far away (12km), and I regulary (nd, lol) need to get there.
Three times a week when it's not too cold or rainy, I go to work and come back by biking, that makes a total of 75km a week. It was hard at the beginning, but it changed my life.

well, i'm going to workplace by "feet"/train/bus, even if it rain/snow/tempest, i'll have to do it (about 2 km by feet)

this' not about some movement before (better) or after work, you have to do some movement during work time, all day. otherwise, if you work 8 hours you are on the char 8h.

PS: you can even do some stretching when you are sit down, at least legs and ...

lonewolff · Post by **lonewolff** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:56 am

Its interesting to hear people mention stomach problems.

I have always been pretty fit and always been able to eat whatever I like. But a year and a half ago. I became intollerant to most food overnight. Now being gluten and lactose intollerant (doesn't leave much to eat)
I was extremely sick for about six months and ended up moving from Sydney back to my old hometown. When I got back home I was 49Kg and in my mind literally ready to die.

Because I was on the road alot for my job. I did most of my C++ learning in the front seat of my work car, with the laptop on the passenger seat.

I wouldn't be half surprised if the extremely poor posture for hours at a time hasn't caused half the problem.

I am now about 90% of feeling ok. But there is always the lingering 10% of feeling like crap, there. Still cant eat most food though.
Not a bad thing though as I haven't touched McDonalds, KFC, Pizza, or any fast foods in over a year and a half.

Minthos · Post by **Minthos** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:33 am

For wrist and arm pain(and back pain, etc) I prescribe a not so simple solution that lets you keep a normal keyboard and mouse - A good reclining chair with good armrests, and a low, slim table without any obtructions underneath, adjusted so that the chair with armrests and your legs fully stretched out, fit under the table. This is very important. Legs and armrests under table. You need something soft to rest your legs on so your legs are horizontal under the table, and you need the armrests of the chair to be slightly but only slightly, below the surface of the table. This lets you rest your elbows on the armrests and your wrists on the table, and you can code/play/whatever for as long as your mind endures without any pain.

This chair/table setup is very difficult to get right, I have tried many tables and many chairs, and only once have I gotten it just right; a custom made table made by my uncle, and a chair from IKEA that they don't make anymore.

Nauk seems to have understood this and taken the concequences of it. A good seat, reclined, good armrests, low and thin table (60 cm seems fine, about the height of a midi-tower) that lets you keep the mouse and keyboard right where it's most comfortable (close to your body, at the right height), and legs stretched out in front of you, not bent and awkward.

DanielSefton · Post by **DanielSefton** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 12:37 pm

Thankfully I've not suffered from RSI yet (touch wood), but I have a problem with slouching. I tend to sit up straight at first, but somehow I gradually slouch more and more. This has caused the skin on my back to pucker, and over time it has caused some nasty slashes. It's like stretch marks, and looks like I've been whipped. I have no doubt that it was a (quite expensive) office chair I bought that caused it; it has quite a long seat part, and it was difficult to sit up straight. Got rid of it without hesitation. I've not heard of anyone with a similar problem yet.

With regards to fitness, work is about 45 minutes walk away, so I power walk all the way there and back which really does the trick. (Apparently power walking is better for fitness than running)