| As you may have already read in our article | | | | meet...you need to finish THAT page...this article |
| "Health effects of internet marketing", internet | | | | needs to be finished (hmm, that's a little too close |
| marketers are particularly prone to a number of | | | | to home :-), whatever the pressure is, it is not |
| negative health effects due to the long hours and | | | | worth your health. |
| significant effort necessary to develop and | | | | Many of the problems associated with computer |
| maintain an online business. Those who choose to | | | | use could be greatly reduced, if not completely |
| do so at the end of an already long working day | | | | avoided by taking regular breaks (away from the |
| are perhaps more at risk than most and could | | | | desk and machine!). What's more, those breaks |
| therefore benefit most from an improvement in | | | | could facilitate you eating better or taking some |
| both their routine and their environment. | | | | exercise - both of which will make you think |
| In this article, we present a series of easy steps | | | | better anyway, so don't just sit there getting |
| that can be taken by virtually anyone to help | | | | more andmore frustrated, get up, go away for |
| maintain existing health and prevent the problems | | | | 10 minutes (or 15, or 30, or however long it |
| that can be associated with extensive after-hours | | | | takes) and come back refreshed and |
| computing. | | | | reinvigorated - it will be much more productive in |
| Step one. Make sure your workstation is set up | | | | the long run.on that note... |
| properly. | | | | Step 5. Get some exercise |
| Do you know the best way to set up your | | | | No only will exercise help you keep fit and healthy, |
| mouse, monitor and keyboard to minimize | | | | it is also a great way of clearing clutter out of the |
| negative effects? Your employer probably does, | | | | mind and stimulating new thought processes. The |
| and (hopefully) should ensure workstations in a | | | | chemicals released by the body in response to |
| workplace are safe. Why shouldn't you do the | | | | exercise can also leave you feeling full of energy |
| same? | | | | and ready for anything - exactly what you need |
| Make sure you have checked out up-to-date | | | | when you have a challenging page to write or |
| information on workstation ergonomics (if you | | | | sales letter to compose. |
| don't know where, just copy and paste | | | | Of course, there's the knock-on effect of helping |
| "computer ergonomics" into the Google search | | | | prevent the weight-gain that can be associated |
| box, below). This will minimize your risk of | | | | with computer work as well as working the |
| Repetitive Strain Injury, back pain, eye strain and | | | | stiffness out of joints that are either doing |
| many other potential problems. | | | | nothing or too much whilst you are sat at the |
| Step two. Check your visual health and monitor | | | | computer. |
| settings. | | | | Go for a jog, bike ride, mow the lawn, do some |
| Many potential eye problems can be nipped in the | | | | yoga or step exercises - it doesn't matter, just |
| bud simply by having your monitor correctly | | | | do SOMETHING - regularly and appropriate to |
| positioned and adjusted and by having regular eye | | | | your fitness level! |
| check-ups and WEARING any prescription | | | | Step 6. Keep it real! |
| eye-wear. You only have one pair of eyes, so | | | | Regardless of what you read in that E-zine, it is |
| use them sensibly! | | | | statistically unlikely that you will be an internet |
| Old monitors can be dark, poorly focused and | | | | millionaire tomorrow (unless you are already one |
| have insufficient contrast, all of which can cause | | | | today, that is :-) |
| eyestrain. It doesn't cost much to have a | | | | Doing a little, often, is usually far more productive |
| semi-decent modern monitor that is sharp and | | | | than doing a lot occasionally. This is more true |
| bright, so if yours is a bit of a relic, maybe you | | | | online than anywhere else - search engines like |
| should consider updating it! | | | | google just LOVE fresh content that changes |
| Similalry, there is no point getting a great monitor | | | | regularly, so why not give them what they want? |
| then sticking it in front of a window with the sun | | | | Slogging away hour after hour, day after day is |
| streaming in behind it! The ergonomics info you | | | | asking to get ill, so make a plan, keep it realistic |
| found above, should include proper positioning of | | | | and stick to it! It doesn't matter if you want to |
| monitors and their relationship to light sources - | | | | write a page a day, one a week or just a couple |
| these are for your own good, so follow them! | | | | a month - you'll soon end up with loads of great |
| Step three. Eat and drink properly | | | | content so long as you stick at it and do a little at |
| It is a fact that most people are chronically | | | | a time. What's more, you won't bust a gut in the |
| dehyrated - a fact which leads to massive | | | | process and may even remember the faces of |
| amounts of preventable disease. Add to this the | | | | your family when they plead with you to get out |
| much less recognized fact that most Americans | | | | of the computer room! |
| (and others) are over-fed but under-nourished and | | | | Step 7. Don't get stressed, get calm. |
| you can soon see the potential hazards of sitting | | | | Stress is a killer. It kills ideas, it kills productivity |
| at a computer all night drinking fizzy drinks and | | | | and, of course, it kills people who let it get to |
| snacking! | | | | them. So don't be stressed. Learn how to |
| Your body is designed to require nutrients in the | | | | recognize the signs of stress and then remove |
| same way that your car is designed to need fuel, | | | | the causes by following the principles of stress |
| lubricants, servicing etc. You know what happens | | | | relief. |
| to your car if you don't look after it, so why | | | | The trick is not to let it get on top of you. You |
| should your body be any different? | | | | must stay in control and if it seems you are losing |
| Proper nutritional meals, at appropriate times | | | | control, take a step back, evaluate and then |
| (preferably home-prepared and not out of a | | | | tackle the problem - not the symptom. |
| packet, box or wrapper) and adequate fluid | | | | Summary |
| intake, ideally without corruption from sugars, | | | | At the end of the day (if you are like most |
| other sweeteners (e.g. aspartame), alcohol and | | | | internet marketers), you will not only have to get |
| phosphates (e.g. colas) will not only help maintain | | | | on with your home life as it existed pre- your |
| health, but will make you think better, and for | | | | internet marketing efforts, you will also have to |
| longer than if you are hungry or on a sugar rush! | | | | maintain your job, your life and (hopefully) a few |
| Given the poor nutritional standard of most meals | | | | friends - yes, even internet marketers have |
| nowadays, you ought to think seriously about | | | | friends :-) |
| getting, and using, some quality nutritional | | | | Internet marketing is truly a field ANYONE can |
| supplements to ensure your body has everything | | | | join, but this is one field where you can have |
| it needs to work properly. If it doesn't, it won't | | | | some considerable gains without significant pain - |
| work properly - it's as simple as that! | | | | as long as you do it right and look after your |
| Step 4. Take regular breaks. | | | | health in the process. |
| We've all been there. You have this deadline to | | | | |