You’ve read a dozen times about good posture & wrist position, but else can I do? We put together a short list of [creative] tips.

1. Swap out your keyboard & mouse 3 times a day. This one comes from some Google engineers who have a daily rotation of peripherals. This forces your hands into more of a variety of hand positions which is quite beneficial. Remember, we’re trying to make what you do all day less repetitive.
2. Stretch more than just your forearms. A lot of problems higher up in the arm & shoulder areas manifest in other areas like your wrists (think about how acupuncture needles are placed in other parts of the body than the area in pain). A full range of stretching [yoga is excellent] in the upper body can make a big difference.
3. Non-smoking smoke breaks. You don’t have to be a smoker to have an excuse to step outside!
4. Pay attention to your posture when you go to sleep. Are you curled up into a ball or stacking 3 pillows for your head at night? Good posture increases circulation, which [in theory] helps you extremities heal. Sleep accounts for 1/3 of your day, so give it thought around the clock.
5. Create macros for two-key keyboard combinations. The fewer keys you press, the less stress on you fingers right? For example ctrl-C [copy], ctrlX [cut], ctrl-V [paste] can all be made single keystrokes by various keystroke macro programs out there, or by specialty keyboards such as the logitech g13/g15. We did a writeup on using the g15 to consolidate key combos to a single button here.
6. Looking directly forward, your eyes should be at the same level as the top of your monitor. Having your monitor too high strains your eyes & encourages you to bend you neck. Looking down is slightly more natural to your eyes, so raise or lower your monitor so the top is straight ahead. Don’t overdue it, less you bend your neck downwards.
7. Treat yourself to a deep tissue massage. Deep tissue is a type of massage where they really dig in and loosen up your muscles. Some massage therapists even specialize in treating repetitive stress injuries, so look around for one. They typically range from 50-80 dollars an hour. Even once or twice a month can make a huge difference in your comfort. The level of skill of a therapist can make just as big of a difference as finding a good doctor, so I’d suggest trying different people until you find someone who works for you. Also, don’t be afraid to communicate with your therapist during the massage about what’s working & what’s not.
8. Hit the hot tub or take a hot bath. What we’re going for is the heat applied to your body which is therapeutic for your muscles. Plus, it’s just a nice way to wind down. Stress is a contributor to muscles becoming tense. Plus, who doesn’t want to hit the hot tub?
9. If you have a medically diagnosed issue, you can often get your employer to spring for some nice amenities such as a hydrolic desk that lets you fluctuate from sitting to standing at the computer. Desks like this have buttons on the front that, within a few seconds, raise themselves up a few feet. A nice little switch up like this may be good for you body and switches things up a bit. Approaching your employer with your medical problem might also help you persuade them to buy you a better chair like a Herman Miller. Don’t underestimate the value of a good chair.

Leave us a comment about what made a big difference for you!