April 04, 2014

Dangers Writers Face


D is for Dangers Writers Face

You may think we are safe behind our desks, but over the years I have encountered many dangers from the “safety” of my desk. I am sharing this list to protect all writers.

13 Dangers Writers Face:


·         Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
·         Eyestrain
·         Paper cuts
·         Computer viruses
·         Headaches
·         Back aches
·         Numb butts
·         Finger sores from pens/pencils (Writer's Bump Callus)
·         Drawers that pinch
·         Scratches from metal spirals on notebooks
·         Books falling on feet
·         Frozen fingers in the winter
·         Dehydration

Now some of these you can’t prevent, but you can still protect yourself from many of these writing dangers.

How to Stay Safe: 
1. Wear a wrist glove or wrap to support your wrist.
2. Use artificial tears eye drops whenever you feel you’ve overused your eyes.
3. Run a program that clears cookies and computer viruses every night. I do!
4. Use a Sans Disk Flash Drive to back up all of your files.
5. Take breaks from writing and computer work to prevent headaches. Also, get up to stretch to prevent body aches.
Tip from Holli: A TrekDesk, which is a desk and a treadmill in one, will help you to stay active.  
Tip from Mike: This is a more affordable option, buy a fitness ball and sit on that instead of a chair so you can move while you're at your desk.
6. Put a back-support on your chair. I have one, which I got at the Dollar Store, and I love it!
7. Sit on a pillow. Yes, I do this too.
8. Keep a bottle of water at your desk. I can’t tell you how often I’ve come close to dehydration because I forget to drink water while working at my computer. True story!
9. (Thank you to Carrie-Anne for reminding me about this one.) Buy foam or gel tubes for pencils and pens to keep your fingers from getting sores. 
10. (Thank you to David for this tip.) Invest in computer glasses to protect your eyes. 
11. (Tip from Susan.) Use a space heater during the winter to keep your hands/fingers warm. 

SHARE: Your tips on how to stay safe and other dangers writers face. I'll add them to my list. :)


QUESTIONS: Have you ever encountered one of these dangers? 
How do you stay safe?


A to Z Blogging Challenge:


42 comments:

  1. I know that frozen hands feeling, even though I live in Australia and in a fairly warm part too. But I have very distinct memories of trying to type but realising my fingers weren't working anymore.

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    1. I live in Florida, but when it gets cold here in the winter my hands always suffer. I try gloves, but I can't type unless they are finger-less, but finger-less gloves don't help frozen fingers. :P

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  2. Headaches and backaches... Yes, I've had those. :-) A nice cup of hot tea often helps. And, of course, a good massage. :-)

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    1. My back is aching now. I wish I could get a good massage. lol

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  3. Headaches and eye strain are the biggest issues I've had. I had to laugh about the numb butts. I am probably at risk of that as I've been a total couch potato lately.

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    1. Eye strain is one of the major issues I battle too. The drops really help.

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  4. I make it a point to get up and move around every so often. I have to go up and down stairs if I want to get something to drink or check on the tortoises so that helps. At the very least, I get up and just stretch. :)

    Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
    Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
    The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge

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    1. It's very important to take breaks and move around to prevent any kind of ache. :)

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  5. I like using those foam or gel padding tubes on pens, so I don't cause undue pain and strain on my finger or exacerbate my writing callus on my right hand. I'm that rare bird who can write with both hands and just switch off if one hand gets tired, but I only have the callus on my right hand. Only in the last few years did I start doing the majority of my handwriting left-handed, and I learnt about how to hold the pen and my hand better. It's sad that a lot of elementary school teachers don't teach children how to write in a way that avoids developing a writing callus. I was really surprised when I discovered that a writing callus isn't inevitable if you're taught proper writing methods from the jump.

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    1. How could I forget about those padded foam tubes for pens and pencils! I'll have to add that to my tips on how to stay safe. So now there are 9 tips. :) Thank you for reminding me!

      I wish I could write with both hands! And I didn't know there was a proper writing method that could prevent finger ouchies. lol I always did seem to hold my pens/pencils differently from others though. Interesting.

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  6. Good tips. I'd like to add that it's wise to invest in a pair of computer glasses, designed to block and reflect light glare and blue light. It'll save your eyes! :)

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    1. Great addition to keep our eyes safe, David. Thank you!

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  7. I am not a writer per se but I have dropped a many a book on my feet :)

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    1. You don't have to be a writer to experience many of these dangers. Books love feet, don't they? :P Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! :)

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  8. Let's see. Backaches—check. Dehydration—check. Eye strain—check. Actually, I could check off most of these. I'm trying to make an effort to take breaks and walk around though, and I usually have a drink by me now too.

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    1. Writing is a dangerous profession, Kelly. We're brave for enduring all of this every day. ;)

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  9. I love your list. I smiled at a few of them. I always have a drink sitting on my side desk so I don't get dehydrated. I solved the frozen fingers by getting a small space heater for my office.

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    1. I definitely learned the hard way to keep a drink at my desk. I just got a space heater in February to battle the cold. It did help!

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  10. LOL. Yes, I suffer from all but viruses. I'm married to a techie who's given me a few sure-fire tips about how to avoid ALL viruses. He's awesome like that. =) I think I'll applied all of these solutions at one point or another.

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    1. How lucky you are to have techie in the house to keep those nasty viruses at bay.

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  11. One of the best investments I've ever made was a trek desk. It will help protect me from the dangers of sitting for most of the day, which is supposed to be extremely bad for our health, regardless of how fit we are.

    I've had it almost a week, and so far I've used it everyday for at least an hour, and usually two or more hours. I can't manage creative writing on it yet, but I can transcribe interviews, comment on blogs, research publishers and agents, and do my editing.

    A trek desk doesn't come cheap, but I highly recommend it!

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    1. I didn't even know something like a Trekdesk existed. That is brilliant! I added it as a tip. Thank you for telling me about it. I may never own one, but it sure is neat!

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  12. All awesome points! (You forgot the dreaded weight gain from sitting on said numb butt). I have to use a timer to remind myself to stand up from time to time!

    River Fairchild – A to Z April Challenge
    Untethered Realms

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    1. Weight gain is a problem from sitting on our butts for too long, but so is weight loss. I'm explaining that one in my next post...

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  13. Love these!! And the tips are perfect!! New follower!!

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    1. Thank you, Dani and Jax! And thank you for following me. :)

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  14. My biggest issues Chrys are back ache (yes I have a bolster in my chair) and eyestrain since I look at dual monitors all day at work and THEN come home to more. I would add to the list - poor lighting. I have a bright light on my desk but turned down some and a light behind me that seems balanced.

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    1. My biggest problem is also backaches. I had spine surgery when I was fifteen, so I have metal in my spine and it doesn't like it when I sit in one place for very long. Eye aches would be my second problem, just like you. Poor lighting can certainly contribute to eye strain.

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  15. P.S. Looked up Trekdesk - don't know that I could ever concentrate enough for creative writing on it. I will add one more that my dental receptionist has done for years. She has a balance ball (bosu ball?) and it sits in a little stand. She swears by it as she can move around on the ball all day long in front of the phone/computer.

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    1. I don't think I'd be able to use a Trekdesk either. Maybe just to walk on it and check emails but anything else that needs more attention, like creative writing, I'd need to be immobile. Oh yes, a fitness ball is also a great idea, and much more affordable. ;) I'll add that to the list. Thank you, Mike!

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  16. Yep, I suffer from some serious back pain and headaches. It's just so hard to take a break when I'm in the writing groove. I did buy myself a treadmill desk a while back and it does help a lot, but I'm so out of shape I can't stay on it as long as I should. Hopefully that's something I'll work my way up to.

    Hope you’re having fun with the A to Z challenge,
    Jocelyn

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    1. It is very hard to step away when you're in the groove of writing, and it can also end that groove if you do. A Trekdesk does sound nifty, but I wouldn't be able to afford one or stay on it very long.

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  17. Very helpful tips! Thanks for sharing. I wish all the best with the challenge ( fellow participant here) ! #theawsomedish.

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    1. Thank you, P Lusamba! I wish you the best of luck too. :)

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  18. The finger sores issue is new to me and I write long hand like crazy. Those are some great tips and the aches are definitely a big issue.

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    1. Really? I used to always get finger sores in school from writing. They are pink/red circles that appear where pens/pencils rest against your finger. They're actually known as Writer's Bump Callus. :P

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  19. Nagging backache: the biggest dangers writers face :)

    Damyanti Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2014, Daily (w)rite Latest Post

    Twitter: @damyantig
    #atozchallenge

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  20. I have suffered most of the dangers you listed. I stay hydrated by keeping a bottle of water near me, and when I stop to think for a minute, I will drink some.
    #95

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  21. YEP! Thanks for all the tips!

    Random Musings from the KristenHead — D is for 'Defiance' (and Dogs)

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  22. This might sound crazy, but I like having pencil sores/hand cramps from keyboards. It reminds me of my dedication to my craft.

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    1. That doesn't sound crazy at all. They are like battle ones that we can be proud of. :)

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