By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep
Are you an all-day, everyday computer user? If so, your body might be trying to send you a message, so listen real carefully . . .
“Psst! Buddy! You’re killing me. I know you’re making a living pounding on the keyboard, but my sitter is getting shot, my eyeballs are blinkity-blanking, and have you noticed my skin lately? Saggy, baggy, and dry as the Sahara. Do something!”
So, what exactly are you going to do for your body? Besides healthy eating and exercising, that is. Here are several things that are easy and don’t take a whole lot of time.
3 Strategies for Body Self-Care for the Computer User
- Sit Right
Perching on a chair all day can do a lot of damage to your back and neck, so it’s important that you position your body correctly. Sit straight in your chair. Yeah, I know I sound like your mother, but it turns out mom was right. Sitting straight, with your head upright, not dipping toward the monitor, really helps you prevent back pain. Your knees should be bent at right angles and don’t cross your legs. Your feet should also be flat on the floor, not dangling.
- Look Right
Staring at a screen can wreak havoc with your eyesight, so follow the 20-20-20 Rule.Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at an object at least 20 feet away. Yep. That simple.
- Drink Right
What’s the number one drink of choice for most computer users? Coffee. There’s just something about a steaming cup o’ joe on your desk that makes everything seem better. But here’s the deal…if you’re sipping on coffee or tea—or heaven forbid, soda—chances are you’re not drinking enough water. Staying hydrated is important. Dehydration leads to fatigue, headaches and an inability to focus, which all inhibit production. The current accepted rule of thumb is to drink eight 8 oz. glasses a day.
It’s hard to focus on your body and stay healthy when you’re thinking about deadlines. If you can work to make these three habits part of your daily routine, you won’t have to
A war-torn countryside is no place for a lady—but Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause . . . to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.
Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he’s offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he’s the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.
Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?
Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of historical romances: The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, and A Heart Deceived, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.