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And don't forget to "eat right and take Geritol(R) every day."
Leonard
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of kathleen -at- writefortheuser -dot- com
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 2:34 PM
To: McLauchlan,Kevin
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: Chin up, you
In the same vein, we should probably take turns sending out a similar
note to our list buddies and ourselves. It's like new year resolutions
for me; makes sense, helps, but I never follow through for very long.
Another reminder: add some walking to your schedule, even if only for 5
minutes (unless you're one of those wonderful peeps who exercises
regularly or bikes to work :-)
Regards and healthy living!
Kathleen
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Chin up, you
> From: "McLauchlan, Kevin" <Kevin -dot- McLauchlan -at- safenet-inc -dot- com>
> Date: Mon, February 22, 2010 4:19 pm
> To: "techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
>
>
> On the assumption that the working lives (at least) of most
techwriters involve a LOT of sitting and reading, and sitting and
writing, I am reminded to exhort everybody to save your necks - and
other body parts - by paying special attention to posture as you work.
>
> What reminded me was coming back from a week's "vacation" during which
I (and my lovely wife) assembled and packed more than 200 boxes, and
wrapped/tied sundry items that don't fit boxes, and also made and
applied labels to all those pieces of freight, loaded a utility van with
the myriad articles and boxes that the movers wouldn't touch or that we
preferred not to trust to the movers, had ourselves moved to our new
house, and made a small dent (so far) in the task of UNpacking.
>
> I spent almost every waking minute of last week standing over a box,
kneeling in front of a box, or crouched low in a van. But I did almost
no sitting, and no reading or typing (our internet service was
in-transit for two or three days, so that contributed).
>
> This morning, still aching mercilessly in places I didn't previously
know I had places, I returned to the office, sat in my office chair, and
noticed that my neck felt better than it had in many, many months (I,
having been paying chiros, physios, and massage therapists for only
partial relief all that time).
>
> Since I doubt that overall physical (self-)abuse was the curative
factor, I can only go with the week-long holiday from sitting hunched
over a hot keyboard or a tepid requirements document.
>
> Since I further assume that I and most of you share a similar
anatomical layout and general bio-mechanics, I thought I'd remind y'all
to do what yo mamma and all your teachers used to tell you. Sit up
straight. Don't slouch! Also do what those lame-sounding ergo and
occupational-health pamphlets have been exhorting for years: get up and
move every half hour or so; bend your torso the other way for a moment
or ten - stand, lean back, push your hips forward), stretch the
shoulders, chest, and other bits, roll the shoulders, tip the neck
(don't roll) in various directions, holding for several seconds at each
extreme.
>
> If you notice your eyes starting to get blurry, and that you are
blinking a lot, try sitting up extra tall as though you had a string
pulling up the top of your skull. Chances are the vision will clear
considerably, within moments, as the nerves from your neck are less
pinched, and the brain fog will clear a bit as well, as the blood flow
to the skull-contents improves. Incidentally, the exaggerated upright
posture will also encourage you to breathe more fully, which will
further improve oxygen delivery to the brain.
>
> And have some dark chocolate. Just because. :-)
>
> - Kevin (under sub-contract to Yo Mamma)
>
> --
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