Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B

Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by msluyter on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @12:32AM (#650578)

Sigh. Over 40 geezer checking in, but because I spent my 20s pursuing a music career, and then a number of years in QA, I've really only been doing pure software development for about 4 years. The problems I've been encountering these days mostly center on the physical demands of the job (typing and sitting) -- joint pain, back pain, tendinitis, etc...

Yoga has been helpful, but I'm wondering how long I'll be able to cope.

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by locopati on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @05:56AM (#650776)

On the physical demands (speaking as an 37yo coder), I've found these things to be very helpful...

- yoga (which you've got covered)

- a kneeling chair does wonders for posture

- placing your monitor at the proper height (eye-level is 1/2-1/3 from the top of the screen otherwise you tend to crane your head forward and downward)

- stepping away from the screens regularly (set a timer to remind you because it's easy to blow this one off)

- eye exercises (especially this one...alternate focusing on the tip of your nose and focusing on a far distance)

Good luck

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by eru on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @10:19AM (#651027)

> - stepping away from the screens regularly (set a timer to remind you because it's easy to blow this one off)

Ubuntu includes an application to enforce breaks by locking your screen. I have tried it. Works.

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by didip on Thursday June 11, 2009 @01:42AM (#652312)

For Mac there's this: http://tech.inhelsinki.nl/antirsi/

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by yummyfajitas on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @09:20AM (#650932)

I found a great solution to keyboard induced joint pain, basically a 100% solution to my problems (which were extensive).

Buy one of these (way too expensive) keyboards:

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/freestyle-solo_690x375.jp...

Then build one of these out of a cardboard box and duct tape:

http://www.kinesis-ergo.com/images/solo-ascent-90_512x390.jp...

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by msluyter on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @11:47AM (#651163)

I actually have that keyboard, but haven't yet tried arranging it vertically. Can you use wrist rests when you use it that way?

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Re:Programmers: Before you turn 40, get a plan B by yummyfajitas on Wednesday June 10, 2009 @12:14PM (#651230)

Not sure how you could use wrist rests, or why you'd want to. For a horizontal keyboard, wrist rests prevent you from bending your wrist harmfully. Of course, they also let you get lazy.

For the vertical layout, the spacing of the keyboard prevents wrist bending: the two sides of the keyboard are roughly shoulder width apart. When you aren't typing, the natural thing to do is put your hands in your lap.

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