Are Computers Hazardous to Your Health?

While earning an online degree is convenient, spending too much time hunched over your laptop and ignoring your body’s need for moving, stretching, and good nutrition can have negative health consequences. With health experts listing sitting and a sedentary lifestyle among cigarettes and fast food as poor lifestyle choices, too much computer time without a break can lead to everything from poor posture to carpal tunnel to severe back pain.

 Here are a few things you can do to stay healthy while working at your computer:

1.       Keep moving. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, take a break and walk around the house or the yard, taking deep breaths. Try to do this at least once an hour.

2.       Stretch. Holding the same position for hours at a time could create havoc on your muscles and back. Take a peek at some simple stretching exercises you can do at your desk.

3.       Consider a standing workstation. More and more doctors are warning about the “dangers of sitting.” Stay active and keep your blood flowing with a standing workstation, or at least one that can alternate between sitting and standing positions so you can change things up every hour or so.

4.       Practice proper desk posture. Everything from the height of your chair to the distance of your eyes to the screen can determine your future health. Check out this piece from the Mayo Clinic about proper office ergonomics.

With just a few simple changes, you can improve both your mind and body while pursuing an online degree!