Five Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Computer Related Injury

Many people don't realize the long-term effects of constant computer use until they are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome or a repetitive motion injury. Other problems, such as eye strain, can also be caused by the regular use of a computer. In this article, I am going to describe five things that you can do to avoid strain and injury while using a computer.

Avoid Computer Injury Tip #1 - Take Breaks
Probably the most important and effective thing you can do to avoid computer injury and strain is to take frequent breaks. Taking a five minute break for every half hour or forty-five minutes you spend at the computer can do a lot to reduce stress and strain on your wrists and eyes. Likewise, getting up and walking around regularly can reduce your risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis.

Avoid Computer Injury Tip #2 - Proper Placement
If you have a desktop computer, try to have your monitor at eye level so that you don't have to look down for extended periods of time. Likewise, have your keyboard at an appropriate height so that your wrists can be in a comfortable position. If you use a laptop, consider placing it at a convenient height for your eyes and using a USB keyboard to accommodate your wrists. This becomes more important the more you use a computer. Also, make sure that the chair in which you work is comfortable, supportive, and at a comfortable height for you.

Avoid Computer Injury Tip #3 - Adjust Monitor Brightness
You don't want to have your monitor be too bright, and you don't want to have your monitor be too dim. Staring at a bright screen for a long period of time can stress your eyes, as can straining to read things on a monitor that is too dim. Adjust your computer's monitor so that you find a middle ground. Likewise, try to adjust your monitor's position to reduce glare. A final word on the computer monitor - see if there is a way that you can invert the colors on your computer screen. This tip holds valid for those that do any amount of writing in Word or a comparable text editor. Looking at a white background for hours everyday strains your eyes much more than looking at a black background for the same amount of time. Mac users can do this easily by pressing control+option+command+8. It is how I do the vast majority of my writing. If you are a Windows user, a similar effect can be had by using Darkroom, a "distraction-free text editor." Google it if you're interested, or do a search on inverting colors.

Avoid Computer Injury Tip #4 - Zoom In
Many people write papers in size 12 font, and zoomed in at 100%. I suggest that you do one of two things. First, you could zoom in. I frequently write formal assignments zoomed in at 200% in Word. There's no reason to torture your eyes by having your writing at 100% or 125%. Do your eyes a favor and zoom in. If you prefer to not zoom in, consider writing at an increased text size such as 16 or 18. A related tip is that you should consider double-spacing your writing, even when you aren't required to. This makes it easier to read what you've written, as your eyes aren't confused by many cramped lines of writing.

Avoid Computer Injury Tip #5 - Be Efficient
Completing tasks quickly and efficiently may reduce the amount of time that you need to spend on the computer. If you have to perform the same task many times, consider using a template document or text replacement program. These will reduce the amount of typing you have to do and will make your life easier.

Computers have completely revolutionized many aspects of the modern world, and are used daily by millions of people. If you are a frequent computer user, following the above five tips can considerably reduce the effects of computer use on your body. If you have any other tips on how to avoid injury while using a computer, feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!