Written by Grace Welch
There you are, reading something online. Maybe you are on your couch, maybe you are at your desk. You might be using your phone or a computer.
How do you feel? 
Does your neck hurt? Do you have a backache? Maybe you are slouching and slumping. Are you sleepy? Maybe you have been looking at a screen for too long.
Now that many of us are working on computers more than before, we might be getting achier and sleepier than we were before. There are ways to fix this problem. Much research has gone into this subject and here are five tips:
Sit Correctly
Make sure your back and arms are supported, your feet are flat on the floor, your thighs are horizontal, and your shoulders are relaxed. This will help to avoid stressing areas such as your back while keeping your core engaged.
Take Dance Breaks
When we sit for too long, we become lethargic. Children in school typically have a small break between each class period where they can move about the room and they typically move around during periods such as lunch, recess, and PE. Give yourself time every 30 minutes to an hour to get up and move. You do not have to go run a marathon, but it will definitely help your body if you stretch, walk, or do some jumping jacks. Your blood and nutrients will increase in circulation and your brain will wake up.
Don’t Look Down
It is important that when we work at our desks, we avoid hanging our necks or resting our chins on our chest. Many young people today have a more advanced stage of disc degeneration in their necks than young people years ago because we are often caught looking down at our phones. This can be true for computers as well. Keep your neck upright as possible by raising your computer screen to eye level.
Relax
Mental and emotional stress causes physical stress. Our shoulders begin to raise causing tension in the neck and back which lead to headaches and fatigue. We need to make sure we are relaxed and trusting in the goodness of our Lord.
Remember What Actual Conversing Looks Like
Recent research has shown that virtual meetings might be more draining than physical meetings because we have to try a little harder to read body language and notice the tone of someone’s voice. It has been suggested that moving the screen off to the side or simply not looking at it during the entire duration of a meeting can increase concentration and decrease fatigue. It helps create the feeling of a real conversation where two or more people do not keep strict eye contact but rather let their eyes drift while they think and speak.
As we are all adapting and adjusting, trying to stay healthy amongst a global pandemic, let’s keep our own bodies healthy in the process. Do your best to avoid physical strain in the virtual world.
