As developers, we tend to spend a significant amount of time in front of computer screens solving brain tasking problems, and if one is not careful it could lead to having a problematic lifestyle hazardous to the health and social life.
Luckily, it's surprisingly easy to make some changes with very little effort and one of the things I have decided to do this year is to take care of myself. So here are some things I will be doing differently this year below:
1. Enough Sleep
Trying to meet deadlines or working on personal stuff, we tend to deprive themselves of good sleep, but I have learnt from the previous year that continuous sleep deprivation affects your focus during the day, ability to think, productivity and immune system, and even your memory.
That is why this year, I have decided to create and stick to a bedtime routine.
2. Exercise
Exercising regularly has a wide range of benefits that will pay dividends in the long run. Sitting means sedentary muscles, and blood doesn’t flow as well in muscles that aren’t active. Exercising keeps your body fit, improves your health, and it also makes you mentally more resilient.
3. Posture
Poor posture damages the relationship between muscle and bone. It puts stress on tendons and ligaments and can leave you with chronic neck and back pain. I struggled with a lot of back and neck pains the previous year due to my sitting posture. So this year I will be working on getting a more comfortable ergonomic chair and practising good seating postures. I might consider working on a standing desk and see how it helps.
4. Taking short breaks
When you’re striving to hit a deadline, or a tough challenge has got you feeling the pressure, it's tempting to force yourself to focus well past the point of fatigue. I have heard a lot of developers talk about taking a five minutes recess after every hour and doing this will let you think about the problem from a different angle and most often than not come up with a solution during the break. I tried this a few times the previous year and this year I will be doing it more.
5. Socialise more often
Growing up, I was very shy and then I joined the development world where you might not be interacting very often with people as it is you and your computer most times. I struggled the previous year starting and sustaining conversations with folks outside the workplace or who are not family members. This sort of made me become a loner when I'm away from work environments as I find it hard to interact with people. This year I will be challenging myself to try going out more often even if I don't want to, meeting new folks, trying to talk with people no matter how uncomfortable I might get.
6. Stop worrying too much
Worries, doubts, and anxieties are a normal part of life. It's natural to worry about an unpaid bill, future events, and a whole lot and this took a toll on me and put a dark, depressing cloud over me. That's why I've decided to worry less this 2020, avoid putting pressure on myself, take life as it comes and be grateful for the things I have.
7. Staying hydrated
Keeping hydrated is crucial for health and well-being, but many people do not consume enough fluids each day, of which I'm also guilty of. I only drink water when I'm thirsty or after a meal. Some scientists have proposed that consuming more water might enhance performance during strenuous activity, and that is why drinking enough each day is on my lists of priorities this year.
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