one of the things i learned during ten years of working in high-tech (and five years of a degree in computer science before that) was how to sit in front of a computer for hours and hours and hours no matter how much my body ached.
and oh, how it did. i saw the nurse once or twice at work, spent lots of time trying to make my computer setup more ergonomically friendly, but nothing ever really made a difference. eventually, the pain became such a constant presence that i didn't even notice it anymore.
unfortunately (or fortunately), now that i am learning to listen to my body, it is awfully clear when it hurts. (which makes me wonder how on earth i managed to ignore it before - and occasionally wonder if i can get back to that again, for which thought i apologize to my poor abused body.)
for months, it has been very apparent that my back still does not like extended computer time. by extended, it seems to be opposed to more than 15 minutes of sitting at a time. i have been noticing the pain, but not responding to it, because 15 minutes seems like practically no time at all. (to be fair, all i might have to do is get up and move and stretch for a minute or two but it's hard not to see that as very inefficient and a waste of time.) well, what ends up happening is that my back seizes up more and more quickly and i go through long bouts where i really can't be on the computer much at all.
last week, my body asked me to retreat. finally, i agreed, and spent the weekend resting and (mostly) off the computer. it was so lovely on saturday that i took atlas to alberta to wander the neighborhood and take photos of sunlight and shadows and drink hot chocolate. (the hot chocolate was for me. atlas got dog treats and a new collar and lots of love.)
after the weekend of rest, my back feels so much better. i think i am finally ready to learn how to listen and respond to it as i go throughout my day. wish me luck.
by the way, if you have been wanting to learn to listen to your body and are in need of a guide, there's still a bit of time to sign up for my february special of a taste of the festival of love and attention. if the timing is right, and the offer resonates, i'd love to see you there. either way, here's to more love and attention for all our bodies!
oh, this rings so true for me. i'm a software engineer, and then i come home and spend hours on facebook/journaling/reading/editing photos. It's pretty much 10-15 hours a day in a chair. i get up every 30 minutes or so out of restlessness, but still....this could be very bad for my future self! kudos to you for taking the weekend of, what a great example!
Posted by: jilliankay | 02/21/2011 at 09:14 PM
This does strike a chord, Elizabeth, and I can definitely relate too as well. I clock in a lot of hours sitting in front of the computer. I try to take breaks, but they never seem long enough--LOL! I read last year that prolonged sitting is actually deadly for the body. That sitting the body is idle, and goes against what the body is naturally meant to do--to move. Muscles go into flat-line status, which is like the brain without activity. Sobering to think about! I now take weekends pc-free and love it--it is very refreshing! Thanks for this inspiring post. Let's move! ;o) Happy Day ((HUGS))
Posted by: Tracy | 02/22/2011 at 04:44 AM
i am so happy i found this today. my hips have been killing me. and i have been doing a lot of work on the laptop. and while i have been so pleased with myself for working more on staying on task, my back obviously is out of whack.
i was thinking last nite, as i sat in the chairl working my hips hurt. laying in bed, my feet were so cold that they ached. so i know i need some adjustments. get back to center, and the circulation will flow again.
do you know how much i look up to you? i do. your knowledge, the way you make things so simple, your friendship. means the world to me.
okay. when i get home from my meeting i am going to check out your taste of love and attention.
smooch.
Posted by: kelly | 02/22/2011 at 05:14 AM
stand. raise your work station to standing height. as you know, i do *my* work standing. i can even tap my foot and bounce my knee to the songs that move me on the radio. and you'd be able to walk away and take breaks from the screen more fluidly.
unless standing is painful, then, standing is out.
here's to an ear fine tuned to the rhythm of your back. <3
Posted by: jen t | 02/22/2011 at 06:47 AM
Ooh, best of luck to you!
Posted by: steph | 02/22/2011 at 09:58 AM
Love this post. I felt like we were sitting and having coffee and talking. I guess maybe you could pencil in rest time in your calendar...I do that for long runs..there scheduled because I must have them. Hope your feeling well..love G
Posted by: gloria king | 02/22/2011 at 11:55 AM
@gloria: i enjoyed our coffee! :)
@steph: thanks!
@jen t: mmmm. standing would have been ideal at work. unfort, you needed a doctor's note about a back. boo.
@kelly: ah, i feel all warm and fuzzy. thank you. sending you wishes for ease and comfort for your hips!
@tracy: i feel like i read that article, or something similar. i have a yin yoga dvd where the guy says that sitting puts something like 4x more pressure on your lumbar spine than standing. yikes. it makes me want to do yoga more. yes. good plan. p.s. i like your pc-free-weekend idea!
@jillian: yes! that was me too. that's partly why i feel like my body should be less loud now - i am not doing the engineering-part of the day. ;) clearly restfulness is v. helpful.
Posted by: elizabeth @ retinal perspectives | 02/22/2011 at 03:55 PM
Very cool! I love the cityscape. The top one would like nice as a long picture over a couch.
Posted by: Julie M. | 02/23/2011 at 11:32 AM