Start Safe Computing Habits When You’re Young

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how sitting in front of computers for the last several years has had adverse effects on my health. I’ve changed how I work and  move and I’m already starting to feel better. Josh Smith wrote an article about how to make a college dorm room ergonomic and it made me realize that college is probably where I picked up a lot of my bad computing habits. The difference is that my body was a lot more pliable back in college so I didn’t feel any pain when hunched over a laptop for hours on end.

Instead of starting a lifelong struggle with back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome or Laptop-itis (yes that’s a real word now), computer users should get in the habit of using external displays, notebook stands and an ergonomic chair. As Josh points out in the article, you don’t have to spend a lot of cash to make your work or study area more ergonomic. It’s a lot cheaper to buy a few items now instad of paying chiropractor, CMT and acupuncture bills later.