5
Take Breaks
Taking breaks can go a long way in helping your body recover from any activity and
may help you avoid MSDs. The length and frequency of breaks that are right for you
depend on the type of work you are doing. Stopping the activity and relaxing is one way
to take a break, but there are other ways, also. For instance, just changing tasks—
perhaps from sitting while typing to standing while talking on the phone—can help
some muscles relax while others remain productive.
To vary your daily activities and to work productively, consider the following:
•
Plan your work and play so that one activity is not performed for extended periods
of time.
•
Use different input devices, such as your mouse and keyboard, to accomplish the
same task. For example, to perform a scrolling task, you can use the wheel on the
mouse or the arrow keys on the keyboard.
•
Work more efficiently by using software and hardware features to reduce your effort
and increase your productivity. For example, you can press the Windows logo key to
open the Start menu.
•
Learn about software and hardware features by reading the information that came
with your software and hardware products.
Be Healthy
A healthy lifestyle can help you perform and enjoy your everyday activities, including
the time spent at your computer.
For overall good health, consider the following:
•
Eat a balanced diet and get adequate rest.
•
Exercise for overall fitness to give strength and flexibility to your body. Keep in mind
that you should consult a qualified health professional to help you choose the
stretches and exercises that are right for you.
•
Learn to manage stress. One way to reduce stress at work is to plan your work area
and schedule so that noise and distractions are kept to a minimum.
•
See a qualified health professional if you have questions about how your medical
and physical conditions may be related to MSDs. While researchers are not yet able
to answer many questions about MSDs, there is general agreement that many
factors may be linked to their occurrence, including previous injuries, diabetes,
hormonal changes (such as pregnancy), and rheumatoid arthritis.
Learning more about your health is an important step in staying comfortable and
productive while using your computer. Enjoy your computer experience.
