10 Health Tips While Working Behind a Computer

Staying healthy is very important when working as a software engineer. It's really easy to forget to watch over ourselves in times where we become hyperfocused on our code. Today I'm going to write about simple health tips to keep your body maintained to help stay focused on your coding journey.

Tip 1: Get sleep

Sleep is a necessity when it comes to coding. It's essential to recharge your batteries. Humans are the only mammal that willingly delays sleep. Sleep is an essential function that allows your body and mind to recharge, leaving you refreshed and alert when you wake up. Healthy sleep also helps the body remain healthy and stave off diseases. Without enough sleep, the brain cannot function properly. It’s very important to set a sleep schedule. Make sure you go to sleep and wake up at the same times every day, getting seven hours of sleep a night. If you’re having trouble sleeping and you've been tossing and turning for 20 minutes get up and do a relaxing activity like journaling or reading.

Tip 2: Invest in a standing desk

A standing desk can help out in so many ways. The standing desk helps out with the blood circulation to help you stay focused and keep mental sharpness. A standing desk can range from $300–$1000 depending on the size and functionality. If this is not in your budget there's a workaround. Standing desk converters are a viable option. they can range from $50-$150. Using a standing desk can help fight against.

• diabetes
• cardiovascular disease
• cancer (especially cancers of the colon or breast)
• premature death.

Tip 3: Protect your eyes

I'm sure everyone has noticed the toll all this coding can do on your eyes. I'm no stranger to staring at a screen all day. One of my better investments involves picking up blue light glasses. Blue light glasses significantly reduces the intake of light on the blue color spectrum. This will relieve eye discomfort and help you sleep. The blue light tells our brain that it's morning and can hinder us from getting some sleep. Blue-light blocking glasses can help reduce the likelihood of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Age-Related Macular Degeneration can lead to potential blindness. Protect your eyes!

Tip 4: Keep your desk clean

A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind. It's really important to keep a tidy workspace. A clean desk can help improve productivity. Cleanliness can help drive motivation and boost your morale creating a feeling of purpose within the work you do. It also helps your wellbeing by giving you fewer distractions so you can be more productive thus putting yourself in a happier mood. This can also leave positive first impressions on whoever sees your workspace.

Tip 5: Take time to be active and stretch

Spending a lot of time in front of your computer can cause pain in long sessions without taking breaks. It's always a good idea to rest your eyes and walk away from the computer after 20 mins or so. It's really important to add exercise to your routine to keep the body active. I recommend stretching and doing yoga. This can help reduce the tension that can build up over time. One of my favorite stretches is to use a pull-up bar and hang for 30 seconds. This helps stretch your lats. It helps reduce back and neck pain. If you have a pull-up bar at home give it a go.

Tip 6: Keep a healthy diet

Your diet is the fuel you put in your engine. To keep that body of yours maintained it's a good idea to have a healthy diet. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It's called breakfast because you are breaking your fast of not eating since the day before. I strongly recommend having a breakfast that is high in fats and protein. This will sustain you to keep you focused throughout the day. Something like eggs, toast, oatmeal, fruits for breakfast can go a long way. Don't forget your cup of coffee.

Tip 7: Taking a break

Don’t forget to take your hard-earned breaks. Breaks are very important when it comes to being productive. Studies have found that breaks can reduce or prevent stress, help to maintain performance throughout the day, and reduce the need for a long recovery at the end of the day. Taking breaks has been shown to be important in recovering from stress, which can, in turn, improve your performance. Social breaks, such as chatting with your peers, have also been found to be beneficial. Social interactions allow you to share your experiences and feel part of a group. A good rule of thumb is to take a 20-minute break for every hour you work.

Tip 8: Creative hobbies

Coding is a very logical process. When it comes to a logical thought process, we can fixate ourselves on tackling a problem in a specific way. Having a creative hobby can help you take a more creative look at the logic of coding. Creative hobbies like writing, playing an instrument, and art can help improve your creativity. Creativity can help you see the bigger picture of the issue you’re trying to resolve. This can let you express yourself and help you gain confidence in your profession.

Tip 9: Find a mentor

It's really important to find a mentor in any profession you're in. This can significantly shorten your learning curve to help reduce the stress of learning on your own. Mentoring is important, not only because of the knowledge and skills students can learn from mentors but also because mentoring provides professional socialization and personal support to facilitate success in graduate school and beyond. Quality mentoring greatly enhances students’ chances for success.

Tip 10: Meditation

Meditation has to one of the most powerful tools you have under your belt. Meditation is like the gym for your mind. This will significantly improve your coding abilities. Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process may result in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Conclusion

As coders, it's easy for us to have tunnel vision when it comes to our work. Making sure you take care of your wellbeing is a great way to set yourself up for success. Picking up these habits can help improve your productivity for the long haul. Your health is something that should never be neglected. Take the time to truly connect with your body and treat yourself as if you were taking care of a loved one.