smart computer use?

I have now for a long time been tracking my own overworked lifestyle and thinking back to days in the past where I didn’t spend as much time using computers and doing all that tech related stuff that goes along with working in the tech industry.

Not too many years ago I didn’t use a cell phone much, used the internet for only a few hours a day at most, and spent a good amount of time doing things that didn’t involve using a computer.

No longer.

I’m constantly trying to keep tabs on my email, constantly trying to keep up on projects at work (all involving the internet), and constantly trying to keep up on the latest tech trends in the web development industry.

All this “keeping up” on things leads to this:

• Sitting in front of a computer for many hours a day
• Working way too much
• Carrying my BlackBerry all the time, and feeling kinda “tethered” to it
• Checking email at all times of the day
• Not getting much exercize
• Eating poorly
• Drinking too much coffee and caffeine in an attempt to stay awake at times

… and the list could go on forever.

Not too many years ago I was finding myself playing disc golf, playing basketball or working out on a nearly daily basis. I could actually get by with checking email less than once a day before people thought I was dead. I ate good food and actually managed my diet fairly well.

Now I find myself not putting any attention on my diet and physical activity due to the need to spend so much time entwined in technology to just keep up on everything in the name of making a living.

IT workers are stressed and over-stimulated

I recently read a great article over at ZDNet by Jason Perlow which really reinforces this issue. He feels that the majority of people in the tech industry are anxious, depressed, sleep deprived and stressed. I agree. His suggestions include taking “me time” where a person doesn’t do anything but sit and relax without the overshadow of computers, phones and other stimulating technology. Get away from it all every once in a while. Great advise.

In addition to that article I also managed to browse through to another article at ComputerWorld about health hazards for IT workers. This article breaks down the various hazards that IT workers encounter such as:

• Obesity and lack of physical activity
• Stress on eyes, back, neck, hands, arms
• Mental stress and over-stimulation

I can pretty much say that all of these have affected me. I’ve even been to a chiropractor because I had a back that was too sore to even allow me to sit in front of my computer and work at one point.

Overall, I think that there are a few simple and not-very-time-consuming things that can be done to relieve a lot of the mental and physical stresses that are encountered daily:

• Mix fruits and veggies into your diet
• Get up and walk around when thinking about work and tech related things rather than staying in front of the computer while thinking
• Do even just a small amount of exercise every day if possible. 10 minutes is better than no minutes.
• Get up and stretch every hour if seated in front of a computer, this will keep the blood flowing and will keep you from getting sore from being in front of a computer too long
• Drink more water (coffee and soda are fine, but in moderation)
• Every day spend at least 1 hour or more not doing anything related to computers or stimulation technology

How do I handle tech related stress?

When at the office, I try to get up and walk away from the computer in between tasks. Any chance I have to do something away from the computer I take it. I try not to eat lunch at my computer. I try to limit coffee intake to mornings only. I try to drink water all day.

When at home and working in my studio/office at home I break up the computer use by either getting up and feeding my fish or cleaning the aquarium, standing out on the porch and getting fresh air, or even doing push-ups or stretches to keep my body moving and to keep the blood flowing. Sometimes I just flat out ignore my BlackBerry when I am at home, I get burned out on having to carry it all the time.

Good stuff.