About the Author
mick madigan
Mick Madigan lives in the UK and has a continual interest in lifelong healthiness.
For information and products to keep you safe fit and healthy on and off the PC, visit his Healthy Computing site at
Healthy Computing
Holidays are nearing their end, a new year of work approaches - and many are plunged into new year blues. Challenges become obstacles, molehills mountains, and depression and stress climb as rapidly as energy and initative fall away. So how do you cope?
Practicing healthy computing - in fact any sort of useful computing - can seem a massive strain.
All the things youve enjoyed-partying,lack of exercise, booze, overeating fancy foods, less sleep- have sapped your energy.
How to get back on track at the keyboard and fighting fit for 2007?
A few ideas off the top of my head-
1/ This may be a drag but- make a list. A short list of things that need doing, soon and do them very soon. Letting important stuff pile up will feed your depresseion, every chore you clear will lighten it a little.
2/ Computing can be a solitary business. Phone or meet a friend or relative who will normally cheer you up, but try not to stay on too long. Or maybe help out some neighbours or volunteer for some community tasks.
Nothing too extensive - youre doing this for human contact, energy, and to tone you up, not for your Samaritans CV.
3/ Act, dont brood. Dont let thinking at your workdesk turn into agonizing about how life might be. Stay focussed on here and now.-, and set yourself little deadlines.
Put on some upbeat music in the background, let some light
in - listening to Leonard Cohen in a darkened bedroom at midnight is unlikely to turboboost your output or lighten your mood.
4/ Financial worries added to holiday bills can really make you feel bad. It isnt hopeless, you just have to spend less for a while. If you must visit sales take a certain amount of cash, leave your credit cards at home.
If you see super duper courses or software on the internet, do not buy unless they will bring immediate definite continuing benefits to your existing lifestyle or business by a massive balance of probability.(Like Healthy Computing,of course, heh heh).
'
Might', 'should' or 'could' cant guarantee any profit.
Its tough, and spending can give you a high but the aftermath will pile doom upon gloom. Spend what you should.
5/ Recheck that your workstation's set up right, youre positioned correctly, warm with good ventilation, low noise levels and minimum interruption. Dull, hey? Sure but ...if you start getting stiffness or numbness, aches and pains, eyestrain, or dizziness, what'll that do for your depression? Or will to continue?
6/ This ones obvious but take regular breaks, get exercises on and off the PC, and plenty of healthy food and drink, and sleep.
7/ Remember that nearly all of us get depressed sometime and one way or another, we regain our zest for living. However, if your depression seems to be regularly triggered by the season, you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and should seek professional medical advice.
Similarly if your depression continues and deepens, you may be suffering from a form of clinical depression and should again seek appropriate medical help.
Hope this helps, and Happy Healthy Computing 2006, 2007 and beyond!
Published by mick madigan on December 29, 2006 11:19 AM
