21–30 of 370 posts
I also have been using a standing desk for about 2 years - which has significantly helped my back (and with the Yoga even moreso).
Most important point is starting a new habit, even if you have to try a couple of different things until you get what works for you.
I took a dayjob to help make ends meet for a while, and had to go back to using an alarm. It's been very, very bad for me. I need to get to bed earlier, but that's not always possible. The exhaustion and pains are coming right back.
A natural sleep schedule. That made a huge difference in my health.
I also bought a treadmill and try to watch TV only while running or at least walking on the treadmill. It's less boring that way and gives me a little less of the feeling that I'm just wasting time when watching TV. I know there's a bit of a 'treadmill desk for programming' fad right now (since Linus announced his), but I find that idea terrible.
Somewhere in there I remembered swimming and got a tape and learned to swim laps.
There's a silver bullet for you, diet and exercise.
Strength training 3x a week. Why strength? Strength is the most generalized adaptation there is. Training to be strong improves every component of fitness: strength (duh), power, agility, balance, flexibility, endurance (all 3 types) and coordination. I would also make the argument that in day to day life strength is the most important attribute of fitness for someone in the western world. The ability to carry a bunc…
it's the difference between being an easy mark and being someone bad people completely avoid.
Strength training 3x a week. Why strength? Strength is the most generalized adaptation there is. Training to be strong improves every component of fitness: strength (duh), power, agility, balance, flexibility, endurance (all 3 types) and coordination. I would also make the argument that in day to day life strength is the most important attribute of fitness for someone in the western world. The ability to carry a bunc…
But I got all of that from Pavel Tsatsouline on a Tim Ferris podcast titled The Science of Strength. Been practicing that and so far I have had some good results. Grease the groove as Pavel says.. http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/01/15/pavel-tsatsouline/
Before I had cancer, I got heavily involved in weight-lifting. Honestly, the time between ages 27-29 were the best years I've ever had in my life, health-wise.
Being in shape is so much better than being out of shape. Your entire life changes for the better.
After beginning to lift, minor pain that I was experiencing in my wrist and back disappeared. I'm now focusing on my posture a lot because I realize I'm basically too weak to sit or stand up straight all day. It has also taught me basic things like how to pick something up. I cringe every time I see some one bend over at the waist and arch their back. People can throw out their backs picking up very light objects.
I highly recommend the book The New Rules of Lifting. Supplement by watching you tube videos about particular motions. Start off slowly. If you can afford it, consider a trainer. But I am a DIY type, as I imagine many here are.
Eat right (I generally ignore weight lifting diet advice and try to follow the advice in Eat Drink and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide, which generally advises a Mediterranean-style diet and is based on aggregating data from several of the most long-term studies of diet).
Make sure you are sleeping well.