Health Concerns - A-Z Blogging Challenge, Starting & Sustaining A Writing Career

Thursday, April 9, 2015

A while back, I decided that H would be dedicated to something to which writers need to pay special attention—health.

Those of us with day jobs may sit for a major portion of the day and those of us who write from home forget to get up and stretch our legs once we’re off and running with a plot point.

The other day, I read an article that gave me a bit of a scare. I haven't been able to find it again, but I've linked to a few below that speak to the damage we do to our bodies while we sit for hours on end. Others speak to what we can do to stay in good health. Take the time to read at least one. Remember, we can't do much of anything if we're in poor condition.



In case you're wondering if I'm trying to scare you, the answer is yes. Get up and move around for a bit. Now!

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.
                                                                              - John F. Kennedy

Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.
                                                                             - Denis Waitley


Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.
                                                                            - Jim Rohn

22 comments:

  1. Oh, that is me... I sit too long, getting older and feeling older everyday... some good points and steps to improve on the "ME"...

    Jeremy [Retro]
    AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]

    There's no earthly way of knowing.
    Which direction we are going!

    HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
    Come Visit: You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have put on weight as a writer because I have compounded my sitting time. I am finally trying to address it, but it means less writing time which makes me sad. I wish I could just give up the day job.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm moving, I'm moving!
    I do get up often and I work out at the gym several times a week.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're so right. A sedentary life is responsible for much that ails society today. I work full time at a desk, with the odd meeting. I then come home and write. However, I'm disabled with a chronic illness so I'm even more sedentary. I move as much as I can, but I'm really limited. So get up and move if you can! You'll be glad of it.

    TD Harvey
    A to Z participant
    http://www.tdharveyauthor.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Take time to exercise, or time may be taken from you. And I like your new look blog!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes! Completely agree!!! Also, I just feel better the more active I am!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Eek! I am a bit scared of all the sitting I've been doing. I've gained a lot of weight since I quit my day job to focus on writing, too, which isn't good. Gotta go outside or get to the gym more.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I tend to get up from my desk and move around every few minutes when I'm writing. It's when I'm working on social media that I sit too long.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We must have read the same article. I'm pretty diligent about moving as much as possible. Of course, April isn't helping my sedentary self one bit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like to build in little breaks in my day where I get up and do other things. I also am an artisan jeweler, so sometimes I will take an hour or two and stand at my jeweler bench to make jeweler. Other times I get up and do housework for a short burst of time or I go out and walk the dog for a half hour. I seem to come back refreshed and ready to write again. Hopefully I'm moving enough for my health. At least I don't seem to be putting on weight.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is one reason I'm so anxious to get my knees replaced and so thankful to have found a medical team with a similar philosophy -- if the medical need is there, why wait until I haven't been able to move for 20 years before fixing the problem. The medical need is there. Doc says he'll fix 'em whenever I want. I want to do it now. No looking forward to the recovery, but I am looking forward to getting my life back.

    Jean, back from the Grand Tour and visiting for the A-Z Challenge from Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer Number 209 on the A-Z List.

    Jean Schara
    Blackbirds First Flight (Quin)
    Blackbirds Second Flight (Glaring Upheaval and Fluffy Malone)

    ReplyDelete
  12. My day job is on my feet, so when I get home, I'm glad to sit. On days off though, I have to make sure I get up and move because my knees get achy.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    ReplyDelete
  13. Scary but very true. Hope your advice is taken.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is a good topic for H and something we all need to be aware of. I'm guilty for sitting for long periods. I do try to remember to get up and move around. That's something that we all can control in ourselves. I'm glad I start out the day walking two miles every day because I do find myself sitting for hours sometimes. You can't do anything without your health. Thanks for the reminder.

    Sunni
    http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great point! Luckily my day job as a figure skating coach keeps me moving around a lot, but even when I'm sitting at the computer I tend to keep my legs moving to keep the blood circulating.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Joined your Thunderclap.

    I'm certainly guilty of sitting for hours on end. More so when writing. I don't even know that time has past!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I make sure to use my weights every weekend. When I have time off, I go on long walks. I need a break from all that sitting I do. It's rare that I sit still for hours. I usually get up to clean or do something else.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I like to go for a daily stroll to the beach- the ocean always delivers a delight

    zannierose A-Z

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's funny I read this today as just this week I made a commitment to getting back to regular exercise because I know I sit way too much. I really do feel better and more productive when I exercise. This is a great reminder for all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This is a good reminder, so thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Now I'm feeling guilty because I've been sitting for hours on end, trying to play some sort of catch-up...
    I'm getting off my butt NOW!
    Off to make some coffee------------------------------

    ReplyDelete

Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you think.