Thanks for checking these posts about our health working as photographers. Let me remind you I am not advocating that you follow blindly anything I share here. These are ideas and programs that are working for me. I have found most of these to also be regular problems for other photographers too. Consult with a physician or do your own research before embarking on any ideas shared here in this or other Photographers Health posts.
I reiterate – I am not a medical professional. I don’t play one on TV. I didn’t even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night…
Photographers Health – Computers Part 2
Once the work station is properly set up we need to work on our habits while sitting in front of our machines. Regular breaks are a necessary part of good work health. But, you say, “Bob, I take breaks all the time!” I’ll bet you don’t take near as many or effective breaks as you think you are. If you are anything like me you can get lost in a project and hours can pass in what seems like a moment. That’s a good thing. Concentration is great. It’s also a bad thing as we have not moved our bodies properly for a long period of time.
OK. Time for a little experiment with time.
Download a Countdown Timer. Here are five available for Windows OS’s that are free. I use the Apimac timer freeware version on my MAC machine. You need OS 10.6 and an Intel chipped computer for this software. There is also a pro version for under twenty bucks that will also turn your computer on and off schedule down and other stuff too.
Apimac Software Timer for Mac
Now that you’ve found and installed your timer set it to countdown for thirty minutes repeatedly for all the time you are at your computer. Most timers have a way to pause or restart the timer as necessary. What you will find is constant surprise that, “It’s been 30 minutes already?” Yep it will!
OK now how do we make this work for us? Every time the timer goes off do one to three minutes of stretching and or exercise. I mix mine up throughout the day. I’ll do a minute of jumping jacks with 30-60 seconds of stretching shoulders. On the next thirty minute cycle maybe do 5-10 push-ups and stretch wrists and elbows. On the next cycle get up and walk around while reaching behind and stretching chest muscles. I try to mix a little aerobic movement with some stretching while changing it up throughout the day. This gets the blood flowing and saves you from the dreaded RSI! Physiotherapists have a name for what happens when you don’t get off your butt and do this stuff. Repeatetive Stress Injury. If you are already experiencing pain see a Physician or Physical Therapist for a set of specialized exercises to get your body back on track. Then use the timer. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel at the end of the work day.
Ideally You’ll be looking to work up to thirty minutes a day of the exercise, walking and stretching. Keep some notes and see how you do. You’d be surprised how fast it starts to add up.
What else?
If you spend time on the phone while you work make sure you get a hands free head set to keep you from sticking the phone in the crook of shoulder and neck. That will keep you from crinking (yes that’s my word) up your neck.
As mentioned in a previous Photographers Health post here on Successful-Photographer use a Pen Tool with a Tablet vs a Mouse for making your selections and navigating around the screen. At the very least if you still are using a mouse make sure it’s a good quality mouse that requires minimal pressure to click, and be sure to position it on the same level and as close to the keyboard as possible. Keep your wrist straight and move the mouse with whole arm movements where possible.
What else?
Get the proper eye wear for your eyes and your body’s health
Don’t be a squinter! If you have any problem viewing the screen break down and get those glasses! See your optometrist for the best results instead of getting cheaters at the drug store. It can make a huge difference. Before you go in for your eye appointment measure the distance to the screen from where your eyes are regularly. Your prescription can be tailored exactly for that distance. Ask for UV protection on the lenses. You might even want to have a pair of glasses fine tuned just for the computer and another pair for the rest of your life. You may especially want to do that if you wear bifocals or trifocals because there’s a tendency to hold your head in a strange position to use the proper section for seeing the screen. Or you bend toward the screen in order to see it clearly. These postures can result in muscle spasms or pain in the neck, shoulder or back. To prevent eyestrain, try to rest your eyes when using the computer for long periods. Rest your eyes for 15 minutes after two hours of continuous computer use. Also, for every 20 minutes of computer viewing, look into the distance for 20 seconds to allow your eyes a chance to refocus. To minimize chances of developing dry eye when using a computer, make an effort to blink frequently. Blinking keeps the front surface of your eye moist.
Back to the equipment – you should have a shield around your monitor to ensure there is no glare on the surface which can adversely affect your eyes causing strain.
I hope the Photographers Health posts this week have been helpful for you. Other ideas? Jump in and comment!
Yours in Photography, Bob
