51 replies
We recently had a pretty good thread going on staying healthy while being in this business.

Well, if you don't think it's serious, check out this snippet from an article I just read taken from the AFP:

"The family of a budding computer programmer have on Saturday launched a campaign to raise awareness about the health risks of playing online computer games after their son died following a marathon session on his Xbox.

A post-mortem revealed that 20-year-old Chris Staniforth -- who was offered a place to study Game Design at Leicester University -- was killed by a pulmonary embolism, which can occur if someone sits in the same position for several hours.


Deep vein thrombosis normally affects passengers on long-haul flights, but medical experts fear youngsters who spend hours glued to their consoles might also be at risk and have urged them to take regular breaks."


Just a reminder to take a break every once in a while!
#kill
  • Profile picture of the author JustSomeWarrior
    Here is a timer that I use when I am writing. It helps me to get up and go do other things to keep me from getting stuck in the same position too long. I don't know if it will work because of my low rank but...

    Interval Timer - Online Stopwatch

    Anyway, thanks for the reminder. I'm going to go have a glass of water right now.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mr Kevin
      I remember this guy in Ohio who died after playing 12 hours of PC games non stop. A timely reminder for all of us to take breaks in between..
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Zach,

    That's a good reminder. I make it a point to take a break every 45-60 minutes, regardless of what I'm doing. I also go for really long walks (I walk an average of 25 miles a week, above and beyond the normal "walking" that I do). Ever since I started take more breaks, I'm actually more productive and getting more done.

    Some fresh air and blood flow really helps clear the mind.

    RoD
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  • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
    What a terrible tragedy.

    This is a good reminder to get up and move around. My husband often tells me I shouldn't sit at the computer for hours without moving. It is time I start listening to him. Thanks for posting Zach.
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  • Profile picture of the author Look4VGames
    I always knew it could kill you, but often times you have to spend 40+ hours sitting in the same position. It's a ridiculous amount of time. Once sitting for so long, blood clots can form, and once you stand up Bam they go to your heart and kill you.
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  • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
    This is very sad, tragic...and, my heart goes out to his family...

    I think, as entrepreneurs, it's VERY easy to let healthy behaviors slip....it's important to really try hard to make time to exercise, and eat healthy. It's a tough delicate balance that, I admit, I struggle with from time to time....you really have to take care of yourself, as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Audrey Harvey
    That makes sense... thanks for bringing it to our attention, Zach. I'm guilty of sitting in front of my laptop for hours at a time.
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  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    But IM and playing video games are not the same thing.

    Just posted about this in the offline forum so will not repeat all I said there. But, anyway, it's much easier to pull yourself away from work than it is from computer and video games, I'd say.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Yeah, get up from the computer... go and get a glass of wine, smoke a cigar, have fun
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

      Yeah, get up from the computer... go and get a glass of wine, smoke a cigar, have fun
      I'm going to try that the next time I use the PC in my local Library.
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      • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
        Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

        I'm going to try that the next time I use the PC in my local Library.
        And maybe a cute librarian girl will join you - at least for the wine and fun part... not necessarily for the cigar smoking :p
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        • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
          Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

          And maybe a cute librarian girl will join you - at least for the wine and fun part... not necessarily for the cigar smoking :p
          Well - if RW was a librarian...
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        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
          Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

          And maybe a cute librarian girl will join you - at least for the wine and fun part... not necessarily for the cigar smoking :p
          Well, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar... but other times, it's a euphemism.
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  • Profile picture of the author visimedia
    it's right. So schedule to do exercise, not just im ing. =)
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  • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
    Yes, of course. If you dont exercise or dont move, IM can kill you because it is really sedentary and your body cant afford to stay at the same place for hours or days.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    How is this any different from all the other slaves sitting behind their computers all day in office jobs?
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    • Profile picture of the author Gary Ning Lo
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      How is this any different from all the other slaves sitting behind their computers all day in office jobs?
      So true..

      And the worst is if these slaves go back home to start there part time job in IM

      Cheers,

      ~Gary
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      • Profile picture of the author guynboston
        Originally Posted by garytsang View Post

        So true..

        And the worst is if these slaves go back home to start there part time job in IM

        Cheers,

        ~Gary
        oh man that is me
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  • Profile picture of the author Goldenboy
    Yes, I have to agree on this but this should not be the primary cause of their death. They should impose self-discipline on themselves to take some breaks in between their works. Too much of something is not good, everything should come in moderately.
    These incidents can't be solely blamed on IM, it is also the person's lack of self-discipline to himself.
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  • Profile picture of the author vtotheyouknow
    Definitely get up from the desk often to stretch and do some exercise.

    Studies have shown that sitting is actually horrible for you (not that you need a study to figure that one out) and I've started working standing up with my computer on the counter.

    The fact is that humans aren't adapted to sitting behind computer screens for hours on end.

    I get fed up with it by midday and then go to take out my aggression at no-gi brazilian jiu jitsu. It's rejuvenating and allows me to get in another few hours when I get home.

    IM is the means to an end not the other way around...
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  • Profile picture of the author magnates
    Originally Posted by ZachWaldman View Post

    We recently had a pretty good thread going on staying healthy while being in this business.

    Well, if you don't think it's serious, check out this snippet from an article I just read taken from the AFP:

    "The family of a budding computer programmer have on Saturday launched a campaign to raise awareness about the health risks of playing online computer games after their son died following a marathon session on his Xbox.

    A post-mortem revealed that 20-year-old Chris Staniforth -- who was offered a place to study Game Design at Leicester University -- was killed by a pulmonary embolism, which can occur if someone sits in the same position for several hours.


    Deep vein thrombosis normally affects passengers on long-haul flights, but medical experts fear youngsters who spend hours glued to their consoles might also be at risk and have urged them to take regular breaks."


    Just a reminder to take a break every once in a while!
    Lol ... Just cracking up here

    IM is not as addictive as a video game

    I can play a video game for 10 hours straight without stopping

    But i have stopped playing games because it hardly ever adds to my life or to the life of others

    But i see your point... take some breaks and stretch after a while

    cheers

    ~Femi
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  • Profile picture of the author aneel90
    Dunno about anything else but I've been putting on some weight from sitting in front of the computer way too much. Gotta hit that treadmill.
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    • Profile picture of the author brookman12
      Its easy to lose track of time but thats taking it to a different level. Going to the gym before you start work is great way to get in a good frame of mind to start you day. I also find that going after work allows you wind down. You cant beat a sauna and jacuzzi to chill out at the end of stressful day.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alam
    Arms, legs exercise after 1-2 hours saves your life.
    I heard a kid died because of CS (excessive playing).
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  • Profile picture of the author melinamrg
    yes, i try to make it a point to get exercise 3 times a week

    if i cant make it to the gym, i make sure i use my kettlebell beside my computer

    never lose your health guys


    we can get lost with all the work....so its really dangerous. You need both you mind and body in top condition if you plan to go at it online
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  • Profile picture of the author ezybux4u
    I feel very fortunate that I have 3 kids and a beautiful girlfriend to keep me from getting too occupied with my Internet Marketing. Besides I like being fit, and can never let a good meal go either, so I thinks I'm safe
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  • Profile picture of the author Chri5123
    Yes this is a REAL threat!

    Not anything this serious but when I started my IM career I know I put on about half a stone in a month lol.

    Have to make myself get regular exercise!

    Is difficult when you are in the zone on a new product/system.

    Chris
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    • Profile picture of the author Vanessa Reece
      Which is why I got rid of my son's xbox about a year ago after only six months. His mood was horrible and he was tired all the time. It was the best thing I did for him. He's now out more on his bike and with his friends.

      As for the IM comparison - working at the computer can be just as addictive for some people hence why I've had to get my back checked because of sitting too long.

      I'm now timing myself and getting up at regular intervals to do other things. Lesson learned.
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  • Profile picture of the author inhwanie
    As a medical professional, I will tell you that the risk of you developing a clot in your legs in your 20s is almost impossible unless you have no leg muscles like someone who is 60 year old + to move the blood along your veins.

    But the point is valid in that if you don't ambulate from your 20s, the risk will definitely increase as you age. Its the reason why we put on compression devices on patients legs in the hospital while they are bed bound and immobile. Maybe people can work while getting their legs massaged by those machines they sell in brookstone
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    • Profile picture of the author erniev42
      Glad I came to this thread. I have been trying to take breaks but haven't made a good enough effort to follow through. I shall give it another run this week.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Smith
    You learn something new every day. I did not know this. I will be taking many more breaks now and trying not to stay on my computer so much. That is crazy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ansar Pasha
    Banned
    Wow... this is sad - dying from SITTING!?

    I think this is just a tad fear mongering... of course, everyone should use some common sense when it comes to stationary activities.

    I'm a bit ADD when it comes to work (it gets done eventually), so thank goodness for that!

    Ansar
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  • Profile picture of the author viscoa
    Such a terrible thing but thank you for bringing it to our attention. I am now trying to take breaks once every hour or so. Noticing that my legs are getting cramped after sitting for long periods of time. We have to stay active!
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  • Profile picture of the author David Chung
    There's always the option of transitioning to standing desks, like Gina Trapani did in this lifehacker post: Why And How I Switched To A Standing Desk

    I'm not sure if it's totally healthy to be on your feet all day either though. Perhaps a mixture of standing and sitting may be more optimal?
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  • Profile picture of the author Targeted Traffic
    Thank you for reminding us!
    Also in addition to random short exercises while doing IM work...it will also be good to take some short naps...
    A recent study performed by researchers from the University of California, suggests that brief napping during the day can result in some powerful brain-boosting effects. One finding of the study suggests napping may help your brain make more room for new information. Considering the fact that sleep is needed to clear the brain’s short-term memory storage, napping allows us to process and store new data.

    This would be particularly helpful to the overwhelming inputs from working on your IM.
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  • Profile picture of the author ephame
    I honestly thought this was going to be a shock tactic thread, off topic but amazingly it's decent advice.

    Sad that someone had to die for others to hear this. Well time to get up and move around i think.
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  • Profile picture of the author dadamson
    Great post!

    I am actually developing a headache! I guess it's nearlly time to take a break! haha
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  • Profile picture of the author glinda2011
    I guess I need a break now. That's a tragic story.
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  • Profile picture of the author harrietfredge
    Well, that is one thing to ponder about. Then this would mean that i have to take a break once in a while. My hardships will be all for nothing if I die younger than I ought to be.
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  • Profile picture of the author Souldja
    I'm always make chinups during my work session .. (I have a horizontal bar in my room).
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    • Profile picture of the author sysgift
      One of the worst things that could happen to you due to long hours on the computer is impaired vision. That is, having problems with your eye sight.

      If you love your eyes and you want them to serve you for a longer period, then Never Ever squint your eyes while reading on your screen.

      Once you notice you have started squiting, STOP WORK immediately.

      Solution: Simply press Ctrl + on your keyborad to increase the font of your computer to a point that you can read without squinting.

      Ctrl - will reduce the font while Ctrl 0 will take you back to the original font.

      Try this and you'll save your eyes.

      Good luck
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      • Originally Posted by sysgift View Post

        One of the worst things that could happen to you due to long hours on the computer is impaired vision. That is, having problems with your eye sight. If you love your eyes and you want them to serve you for a longer period, then Never Ever squint your eyes while reading on your screen. Once you notice you have started squiting, STOP WORK immediately. Solution: Simply press Ctrl + on your keyborad to increase the font of your computer to a point that you can read without squinting. Ctrl - will reduce the font while Ctrl 0 will take you back to the original font. Try this and you'll save your eyes.
        Seven years before I hear this? Dang! Seriously though, you can try using JFW or JAWS For Windows from freedomscientific.com -- You can turn the monitor off, though you can turn it on again, when you need to, but you can still keep it running and just listen to the text displayed on your monitor as JFW reads it to you, and just look at your monitor if you need to see an image or something visual... I for one ask my wife or the person closest to me to look at the monitor in case I need something visual described to me...

        I also use a Bluetooth keyboard, and since I don't need the mouse, I can ride the stationary bike in my home office, place my keyboard in front of me, do some cardiovascular exercises while checking and answering emails and IMs or continue doing what I'm supposed to do on my computer, since I just need to crank the volume of my speakers, so I can hear JFW better...
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        • Profile picture of the author sysgift
          Originally Posted by Marx Vergel Melencio View Post

          Seven years before I hear this? Dang! Seriously though, you can try using JFW or JAWS For Windows from freedomscientific.com -- You can turn the monitor off, though you can turn it on again, when you need to, but you can still keep it running and just listen to the text displayed on your monitor as JFW reads it to you, and just look at your monitor if you need to see an image or something visual... I for one ask my wife or the person closest to me to look at the monitor in case I need something visual described to me...

          I also use a Bluetooth keyboard, and since I don't need the mouse, I can ride the stationary bike in my home office, place my keyboard in front of me, do some cardiovascular exercises while checking and answering emails and IMs or continue doing what I'm supposed to do on my computer, since I just need to crank the volume of my speakers, so I can hear JFW better...
          Great tool but somewhat expensive.
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  • Profile picture of the author seo slayer
    Yeah! IM can be painful! I once heard a podcast of Yaro Starak! He was saying that he is attending the podcast by standing in front of his 30' LCD! 'Cause he don't want to harm himself by sitting for 40+ minutes!
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  • Profile picture of the author JamesGw
    The only time I sit for long periods of time is at my job. When I'm home, I'll work for an hour or so then get up and bang out some pull ups or something. I like being active.
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  • Profile picture of the author icemusike
    whenever i feel my back is stuck on the chair.. i go to bed for 1-2 hours.. with my girl ) getting some activity (Watching TV and stuff.. what you think...) )
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  • Profile picture of the author peakperformer
    WOW. thanks for sharing mate!

    This definitely gives me more reason to take breaks and go to the pantry to grab some snacks.

    All in all, health is more important than wealth, and we should all strive to achieve balance in all areas of our lives

    Kudos for this great article!

    Max
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  • Profile picture of the author Edward Thomes
    Ho... deep vein thrombosis.

    But it wouldn't affect me if I go around playing sports while my online business earns me money.
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    • Profile picture of the author mcass
      Good idea to have a thread like this!

      I do get up a lot - it seems rather natural for me to go out and walk, do the dishes, go to the gym... but on days when I am lazy or if I have a deadline I have to set the timer and force myself to get up after at least an hour of work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Boxster77
    When I was serving time in cubicle paradise I asked my doctor about sitting down. He told me every hour get up for at least 5 min. 10mins preferred. Then after about a month my boss was like I always see you your out of your seat. I told him funny every time I see you your out of your seat. Cubicle paradise....
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