Healthy Webmastering

By

Robbo

Robbo's Webmaster Page

Okay everybody pull up your lawn chairs, break out the junk food, caffinated beverages and your favorite smokeables cause it's time to talk healthy webmastering! Does that sound like your normal faire? Do you feel the effects of one or more of those things at inopportune times? We all love a little vice or indulgence of some sort here and there! Am I right! Or perhaps can't quite break down for that neato ergonomic hyperchair with the built in dual armrest keyboards to ease your back. Despite these facts there are many good things you can do for yourself, body and mind to maximize your effectiveness and experience less discomfort.

As for comfort and ergonomics the starting point is a good adjustable chair with comfortable armrests and ample body support. It's a must for anyone spending long hours working in a seated position. The comfort and posture of your torso affects the rest of your body just as the nerves branch out from your spinal column and out to your fingers and toes. The ankle bone`s connected to the shinbone... Well that pain may be too! And proper alignment of forearms and wrists is crucial for fighting fatigue and stress. A good gel pad or similar wrist support provides comfort and protection during prolonged usage. You may even find switching from a mouse to a trackball or vice versa as a welcome break from your usual choice as well as provide some relief. I personally prefer a standard top mounted trackball. I find it comfortable for it's ability to be moved around on your work surface and even more so because you do not need to be clenching it in order to operate it.

Another big thing to be aware of is to make sure you take frequent breaks. Not only does this give your body a chance to stretch out and get the blood circulating but it also gives your eyes a break. Eyestrain is another problem for which frequent breaks are the only real relief until monitor technology progresses and filters down our way.

Body posture will dictate the alignment of your arms and wrists which for many is a great source of concern. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS is a common condition caused by repetitive stress that afflicts large numbers of the population. I've gone through small flare ups of CTS and have found combined with appropriate rest my best weapon has been vitamins B6 and B12. Standard pills equalling approximately 4000 to 5000% of the recommended daily allowance. I take these when I feel symptoms starting and continue for a few days until it's gone and it`s usually never more than that. That is essentially a mega dose but your body rids itself of the excess.

The B vitamins are very good for nerves and act at the source of this problem. This was recommended to me by a hospital administrator and lifelong health professional as well as being a common recommendation in general. And B vitamins have a few other beneficial affects. For one it is known do decrease the desire to smoke. It also acts on nerves to work more efficiently with increased transmission hence the need for a lower level of stimulus. Like the old saying of vitamin B enhancing your buzz from certain drugs this same effect can be used to lessen the need for certain substances. It's probably my favorite vitamin next to C for it`s anti-oxidant and immune building properties.

And on the subject of vitamins and supplements there are a plethora of health drinks, bars and touted enhancers, many not fully tested that have some apparent benefits though some of the compounds are derived from the same sources as ephedrine and other stimulants which can have negative effects on some people. Generally it is best to go with the purest products with natural and more well known ingredients than to risk harm to your health.

This brings us to diet. Like a vehicle our performance relies a lot on what we burn as fuel. Again when possible the most pure and natural things generally burn much cleaner. One of the most important and probably most overlooked essentials is the need for water. We've all heard 8 glasses a day for good health. Give or take a few for individual weight variances you could say that's about right. It`s a fact that in this country most of us suffer from chronic dehydration to some degree. This process is only compounded by our penchant for alcohol, caffinated drinks and ones high in sugar. Caffeine found in coffee tea and sodas is a known diuretic. This means that it increases urinary discharge resulting in loss of excess fluids. And the body needs water to process sugars depleting reserves. And true caffeine brings you up. But there is also a crash afterward.

If you really need a reason to drink more water or would just like more information on the subject I suggest you give a look at The Water Cure. There are several articles here especially the one on "Water and Salt". I`m sure you are capable of resisting the advertising there despite which there is some very interesting reading to be had.

As for food we all have different traditions and habits, likes and dislikes. Unfortunately fast food has gone worldwide and the sales push is on to hook You! But there are some basics that just being conscious of can benefit you even if just a little bit. Start to identify how different foods affect your mood and performance. It's amazing how people can go through their whole lives and never make the connection. Food should energize you not bog you down and make you feel like going to sleep. We are all familiar with the feeling of just having eaten a big turkey dinner or other large feast.

Don't get me wrong I love my meat but I don't think twice to have vegetarian days. And big meals are not all they are cracked up to be. It's much better for your body to consume several smaller meals throughout the day and often enables us to include more of a variety in our diet. Dairy products are another culprit in giving one the "slows". Lactose intolerance aside milk does'nt coat your stomach. Your stomach coats itself to protect it from the lactic acid to begin with. And generally they are all just slow to digest. Yes even chunky monkey ice cream!

Yes it's not easy with these days finding time and having the convenience to always be eating right. But the more you can know and begin to understand the easier it becomes to make little changes for the better. Everyone is different and will require variations in regimen but even finding a new vegetable you can tolerate is a positive step. And ask any Italian and they can show you at least a hundred meals that can be prepared as fast as macaroni can boil!

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