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The Most Important Aspect of a Programmer's Life

The Most Important Aspect of a Programmer's Life

Tips to carry on a healthy, happy lifestyle as a programmer

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Mahdhi Rezvi
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7 min read

Cover Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

You Don't Know What You Have Until You Lose It.

We, programmers, are always concerned with our goals and targets, like learning a new language, achieving perfection, trying to get a better job, etc. So much to the extent that we forget our human nature. Health is the most important aspect of the life of a Programmer. We often take our mental abilities for granted, and eventually, burnout hits almost all of us. What would you do with a higher paying job if you cannot spend that money with peace of mind?

We all know what the above quote means, but we often forget that it also applies to our health. While programming is not considered a hazardous career, a surprising percentage of developers suffer from health problems. Sitting at a desk will not kill you, but it is not as healthy as you would assume. Fortunately, it's fairly simple to make certain modifications to our stressful life with minimal effort.

Here are a few tips to help you achieve a healthy programming lifestyle.

Sleep

This is one of the most important aspects of a healthy lifestyle we programmers tend to neglect. We have become night owls, coding for long hours at night and dozing off the rest of the day in bed.

This is very important when you're in your teens or twenties. There was a time when I thought staying up late, and working was cool, and then I later realized it does no good at all. An all-nighter will not kill you, but it can definitely harm your health if you are not careful.

It takes longer to recover from restless nights as you get older. It may be essential to burn the midnight oil on occasion, but avoid making it a habit for the sake of your health.

Sleep is something your body needs to recover from the previous day and stay fit. The body uses this time of inactivity to reboot your brain and repair any damage you incurred during the day. Studies have shown getting enough sleep significantly boosts your focus during the day, improves your immune system, and even enhances your memory.

Try to use screen filters and blue light–filter specs to reduce your eye strain. I started using a pair of blue light–filtering glasses and found them very comfortable. You can even use blue light–filter applications on your devices to help you ease the strain on your eyes. This will allow you to have a good night's sleep.

Exercise

Even though this is the obvious tip on the list, people tend to ignore or forget this quite often. You don't necessarily train to become the next heavyweight champion, but doing some form of exercise has a number of benefits that'll keep you healthy, fit, and focused. Opting for the stairs is also a viable choice.

If you go to work by bike or on foot, then you're already ahead of the curve. A good long walk has a list of benefits. Exercising on a daily basis offers a plethora of advantages that will pay rewards in the long term. It maintains your body fitness, enhances your health, and makes you psychologically stronger. The latter is especially crucial if your job is emotionally or mentally challenging.

You can even follow a sport on a regular basis, the best choice being the type of sports that make you sweat - cardio. But make sure it's a regular activity. This doesn't include games like chess and snooker/pool.

image.png Photo by Jacob Postuma on Unsplash

Posture

Nowadays, poor posture is a widespread issue. Even if your company has nice, ergonomic seats and desks, it's vital to be aware of your posture. When you're in your twenties, it may seem little, but the number of young people suffering from chronic ailments caused by poor posture is frightening and growing.

For a number of reasons, studies have demonstrated that sitting at a desk for lengthy periods of time is unhealthy. Some programmers get around this by standing at their desks. If you've never heard of a standing desk, it's exactly what it sounds like. Standing desks do not even have to be costly.

If you want to try out a standing desk, keep in mind that your body will need some time to acclimate to your new arrangement. It is advised to gradually increase the amount of time spent working at a standing desk.

Some folks go a step farther and utilize a treadmill workstation. The major advantage of them over a standing desk is the quantity of calories you burn over the day. The treadmill's speed is set quite low as t his is necessary at times to avoid injury. The aim of a treadmill workstation isn't to run a marathon while you work. The objective is to keep your metabolic rate slightly higher than your resting metabolic rate.

Hydration

Fluid is very much essential in helping your body maintain its balance. People sometimes get so involved with work that they forget to drink a lot of water. If you don't stay well hydrated, you can end up with various health risks, including muscle cramps, headaches, vision problems, and even kidney stones in the long run.

Follow these hacks to stay well hydrated.

  • Have a glass of water as soon as you wake up
  • Keep a reusable water bottle on your work desk, and drink a bottle full of water before lunch and another bottle just before the day ends
  • Increase your consumption of spicy foods. This naturally leads to an increase in water consumption.

Diet

Programmers are known to be obese. Even I gained a good 20 pounds in the last six months because of my unhealthy lifestyle. It goes without saying a healthy diet is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. That doesn't imply you can't have a snack or that you have to eliminate everything bad from your diet. Simply put, it means being aware of what you eat and when you eat it.

"You are what you eat," according to an old saying. One of the finest decisions a programmer can make is to create a nice healthy diet. A good diet allows your body to perform at its best, which leads to a healthy brain, which leads to increased productivity. It's pertinent for a coder to show a strong interest in nutrition and a healthy diet.

Try to pass on junk food and fizzy drinks as much as possible - as they are known to be very unhealthy and bad for your brain function. Also, try to include a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Try to keep your meals filled with different colors of veggies. For example, have a salad with green, red, and yellow-colored veggies and fruits.

image.png Photo by Jon Flobrant on Unsplash

Balance

It's not always simple to find balance in your life. It may be tough to be offline for extended periods of time if you have busy work with a lot of obligations. It's critical to strike a balance between work and life, no matter what you do for a livelihood.

Everyone requires some personal time to relax and unwind. Having a fine line between work and life may be quite beneficial in terms of recharging your mind and soul. You'll be able to spend more time with your family as you won't be distracted by work. When spending time with friends and family, put your phone down and don't check your mail. It genuinely aids in the recovery from the previous day and preparation for the next.

I believe there are moments when you should detach, turn off your computer, turn off your phone, and unplug from the internet. It's a great sensation to leave your smart devices at home and go for a stroll or even a jog. Your mind will be grateful.

I sometimes dream in code; I consider that as a wake-up call and take a break from my work. After some leisure activities, I feel refreshed. Some people take a break by watching a movie or binge-watching their favorite TV show, but I'd suggest, rather, you take a no-screen break. This no-screen break shouldn't include any screen time whatsoever. Hiking, trekking, and a stroll along the beach are some really nice ways of taking a re-energizing break.

Conclusion

I, too, am personally guilty for not following a healthy lifestyle.

Prioritizing your health enhances your quality of life today and in the future.

See you in another piece. I hope you learned something from this.

References

Web DevelopmentGeneral ProgrammingcodingProductivityProgramming Tips