5 ms·

The greatest ally of the programmer: getting off your ass. After a little back pain, I made a few changes which make me feel a whole lot better generally, and

by dood 17y ago

The greatest ally of the programmer: getting off your ass. After a little back pain, I made a few changes which make me feel a whole lot better generally, and make it much easier to get and stay in 'the zone': - take breaks regularly - stand up when not operating the computer - stretch whenever you remember - walk about - exercise daily (as much or as little as you feel like) These simple measures quickly become more of a joy than a chore, and will protect from back pain, RSI, hemorrhoids, fatigue, and probably a bunch of other nasty things that creep up on you.

Groxx 17y ago
The second greatest: the bran muffin. Too many people seem ignorant of the strain => hemorrhoid connection.
- johnyzee 17y ago
  How does that work? Supposedly a bran muffin is high in fiber which would help digestion and prevent constipation.
sh1mmer 17y ago
Get a split desk and spend part of your work time not on your tush.
lutorm 17y ago
I do all of that and have still been afflicted with most of those problems.
- Todd 17y ago
  A chair really can make all the difference. I was having severe back problems until I bought a Steelcase Think. My problems went away overnight. Every chair won't work for every person. I suggest that you buy a good chair, try it for a week, then return it if you don't get great results. Repeat until you're successful. Good luck.
froo 17y ago
>take breaks regularly >exercise daily This. I actually bought a recumbent exercise bike which sits next to my home office desk. I've mounted a touch screen LCD in place of the "normal" trip computer and it's hooked up to a netbook. That way, when I feel like my mind is wandering while working, I can take a break and peddle and surf the web/watch something. It's not lost time that way, just re-purposed.
techiferous 17y ago
Agreed. One of the very best decisions I've ever made in my life was to go car-free (which is unfortunately not an option for most Americans :( ). So my commutes don't involve sitting, but walking. If you have the option to give up your car, do it.
pmiller2 17y ago
Another really simple thing you can do is walk around while you're thinking. I know you probably incorporate this into "stand up when not operating the computer," but it bears repeating and emphasizing. Not only does it get you away from your keyboard and chair, it also helps stimulate the thought process.
- josefresco 17y ago
  When I'm on the phone with clients, I will stand/walk around my basement for two reasons; it gives me a break from sitting and I can talk loud without interrupting others who are working or kids who may be napping. I have a computer in the basement where I can browse whilst on the phone, with no chair so I don't get sucked into anything. (P.S. I'm typing this standing up) A few years back I had forearm/wrist issues on my mouse hand. Some simply adjustments in my posture (Hint: don't waste money on an expensive chair) was enough to stop the pain. The icing on the cake was working for myself. Instead of 8 solid hours in front of the PC clicking around, I now have 100 things to do in the day, only 25 of which may be actual development. The end result is more time away from the machine and less pain which means a potentially longer career.
biafra 17y ago
I had three different therapies for my back (exercise machines, acupuncture and something that hammered the muscles so they would relax, does not hurt as much as it sounds but it hurts) they all lasted for a few month. Two Years ago I started going to work by bike (7km). Doing that every workday has kept the back problems away ever since. I just hope I can keep that up the rest of my (work-)life. Though a shower at work would be nice. Not so much for me but my colleagues :-) I can still hear podcasts while biking so I don't "loose" the time. Public transportation would take the same amount of time and is more expensive.
- ewald 17y ago
  I guess it's a bit dangerous listening to podcasts while biking, isn't it?

by dood 17y ago

Groxx 17y ago

The second greatest: the bran muffin. Too many people seem ignorant of the strain => hemorrhoid connection.

johnyzee 17y ago
How does that work? Supposedly a bran muffin is high in fiber which would help digestion and prevent constipation.

sh1mmer 17y ago

Get a split desk and spend part of your work time not on your tush.

lutorm 17y ago

I do all of that and have still been afflicted with most of those problems.

Todd 17y ago
A chair really can make all the difference. I was having severe back problems until I bought a Steelcase Think. My problems went away overnight. Every chair won't work for every person. I suggest that you buy a good chair, try it for a week, then return it if you don't get great results. Repeat until you're successful. Good luck.

froo 17y ago

>take breaks regularly >exercise daily This. I actually bought a recumbent exercise bike which sits next to my home office desk. I've mounted a touch screen LCD in place of the "normal" trip computer and it's hooked up to a netbook. That way, when I feel like my mind is wandering while working, I can take a break and peddle and surf the web/watch something. It's not lost time that way, just re-purposed.

techiferous 17y ago

Agreed. One of the very best decisions I've ever made in my life was to go car-free (which is unfortunately not an option for most Americans :( ). So my commutes don't involve sitting, but walking. If you have the option to give up your car, do it.

pmiller2 17y ago

Another really simple thing you can do is walk around while you're thinking. I know you probably incorporate this into "stand up when not operating the computer," but it bears repeating and emphasizing. Not only does it get you away from your keyboard and chair, it also helps stimulate the thought process.

josefresco 17y ago
When I'm on the phone with clients, I will stand/walk around my basement for two reasons; it gives me a break from sitting and I can talk loud without interrupting others who are working or kids who may be napping. I have a computer in the basement where I can browse whilst on the phone, with no chair so I don't get sucked into anything. (P.S. I'm typing this standing up) A few years back I had forearm/wrist issues on my mouse hand. Some simply adjustments in my posture (Hint: don't waste money on an expensive chair) was enough to stop the pain. The icing on the cake was working for myself. Instead of 8 solid hours in front of the PC clicking around, I now have 100 things to do in the day, only 25 of which may be actual development. The end result is more time away from the machine and less pain which means a potentially longer career.

biafra 17y ago

I had three different therapies for my back (exercise machines, acupuncture and something that hammered the muscles so they would relax, does not hurt as much as it sounds but it hurts) they all lasted for a few month. Two Years ago I started going to work by bike (7km). Doing that every workday has kept the back problems away ever since. I just hope I can keep that up the rest of my (work-)life. Though a shower at work would be nice. Not so much for me but my colleagues :-) I can still hear podcasts while biking so I don't "loose" the time. Public transportation would take the same amount of time and is more expensive.

ewald 17y ago
I guess it's a bit dangerous listening to podcasts while biking, isn't it?