One day, I began to think about how well I really took care of myself as a writer, one who spends hours slouching behind her computer desk, constantly focusing on the screen, and forgetting everything around her.

Of course, nutrition is important and so is a regular exercise program; however, I was looking more so at my habits while writing and finding remedies that I could incorporate that would contribute to the betterment of my health, during my writing hours.

During my long days and often nights of writing, I began to critically access myself from the top down.

Mind

Do I clear my thoughts enough?

For someone, like me, who often writes many hours straight through, forgetting to take any descent breaks, the thought seldom occurred to me.

I alleviated this problem by getting out of my office for a short time after two or three hours of writing, to refresh my thinking . This distraction enhanced my creativity, often giving me a new perspective on my writing.

Eyes

Do I give my eyes enough breaks from the hours of staring at the bright screen?

Being so absorbed in my writing, I seldom gave my eyes any consideration other then when they screamed from dryness or ached from tiredness.

Every fifteen minutes, it is recommended to look away from the screen and stare at a distant object to change your focus. Of course, being so absorbed in my writing, how was I to remember to look away every so often.

As a reminder, I used a timer that I set for fifteen-minute intervals. After each fifteen minutes, I take a  few minutes to look out my office window and focus on something farther away. I know that without an alarm reminding me, the task would be next to impossible. Those fifteen minutes would slip to an hour, probably more like two or three.

Back

Do I sit up straight?

I discovered my posture, too, needed improvement. I couldn’t believe how many times, I caught myself slouching.

Slouching was a more difficult point to conquer. I often didn’t realize that I was sitting in that terrible hunched position. A good chair helps, but it can only do so much. I needed to be consciously aware of my posture at all times. I did get help from my family. When they see me sitting hunched over, they come and press my shoulders back as a reminder to sit straight. I also started doing weight lifting to strengthen the muscles that help keep your back and shoulders straight. What really helped was setting a book on top of my head. Yes, I know it looks ridiculous but it works! I have noticed that sitting straight makes the long hours of writing more comfortable.

Hands

Do I treat my typing hands with respect?

This was one thing I did do.

When I began to write longer hours, I invested in a proper keyboard to take away the strain on my wrists, I got a proper mouse and key pad for support, and often during my writing, I give my hands a light shake or stretch.

Legs

Do I get enough movement into my legs while I write?

Who thinks of their legs when they are absorbed in their writing?

Sitting for long periods is terrible for the legs; in fact, it has many ill effects on your health. It is claimed that extreme sedentary is worse than excessive smoking. I never knew that my long hours behind my desk was so unhealthy. Inactivity is such a problem that an organization exists that fights against it, called Researchers against Inactivity-Related Disorders (RID).

Due to the importance of regular movement, I put a stair-climber right beside my office desk. Using my trusted timer again, every half hour, I step onto my climber to exercise my legs for a short time, enhancing my circulation.

Now that I treat my body with care, it rewards me with feeling better and having a clearer mind with improved concentration. I hope, I can continue to enforce these points for the betterment of my health and my success.

“The greatest wealth is health.”  -Virgil 

 

Regards!
Alandra CL

I love to hear from you, so email me at acl@alandracl.com

Official Blog of Alandra CL

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When my husband told me what he had experienced on his way home from work the other day, it touched me so profoundly that I needed to share it.

My husband was driving down a six-lane highway, with three lanes going in his direction, all covered with heavy rush-hour traffic. He already noticed from a ways back a disabled man, having difficulty crossing the road. The man whose arms were all bent and crooked and whose twisted legs wobbled had almost fallen into traffic as he tried to get down from the curb and failed. Having missed a couple of pedestrian lights, sadly none of the dozens and dozens of cars that passed him had stopped to help.

Approaching the walk, my husband put on his four-way blinkers and stopped his car. He got out of the vehicle, walked up to the man, and asked if he needed help. The man gave an appreciative, “Yes!” My husband then escorted him across by stopping the other two lanes of traffic as well. With the man’s difficulty of movement, it took some time before they reached the other side of the highway.

The interesting thing was that once my husband had stopped all the lanes of traffic, every car waited until he returned to his own vehicle before any of them drove off again.

Tears came to my eyes when my husband told me what had happened that day. First, I had tears of sympathy for the man. How frustrating and helpless he must have felt. What we take for granted as simply crossing a street, for him it becomes a nightmare.

Then I replaced those sympathetic tears with ones of joy not only because of the depth of kindness my husband had displayed in helping another human being but the respect the other drivers had shown him for doing so.

It made me realize that despite the appearance of nonchalant, busy, and antisocial lives people portray, they still process the desire to support others. It only takes one to show the way but others soon follow.

 

“Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”  By Howard Zinn

Regards!
Alandra CL

I love to hear from you, so email me at acl@alandracl.com

Official Blog of Alandra CL

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I’ve been asked about how I came up with my author symbol, so here’s its story.

During the design of my website, I searched for a symbol or icon that was unique to me as an author, something to use to authenticate my original work. I decided on a coat of arms. I’m an admirer of family and official crests, so I thought a personally designed coat of arms specifically for an author was a good solution.

• I wanted various qualities to my coat of arms, so I put considerable thought into its layout
• I wanted to use a shield for my coat of arms since heraldry has always been an interest of mine
• I wanted it simple, so that with a single glance, its meaning was clear
• I wanted it authentic, a coat of arms that depicts my personal message as an author

Considering the above points, I began to select images for the various parts.

Crest - I omitted for simplicity.

Top mantle – I adorned with my initials, ACL.

Shield supporters – I also omitted these for simplicity sake.

Shield plate – I put as my charge, a quill that symbolizes a writing implement for a writer and has been used as a principle writing tool for many centuries. Without a tool to get the words out, the words would remain locked in the writer’s imagination. As a collector of quills, it seemed an appropriate insignia to use.

The banner – Not all coats of arms have banners, but I have always found it to be one of the more attractive features. I omitted the top banner and settled only for a bottom one. Rather than just put my name on it, I wanted the banner to convey what I, as a writer, wanted to share with my readers. The words I had inscribed onto my banner were Socius Scientiae, Latin, meaning to share knowledge.

Knowledge is all-powerful. It eliminates fear, it makes life easier, it can save lives, and it paves the road to freedom. As a writer, it’s not just about sharing knowledge, it’s about using those wise words to entertain readers.

So there you have it; the creation of Alandra CL’s coat of arms.

Regards!
Alandra CL

I love to hear from you, so email me at acl@alandracl.com

Official Blog of Alandra CL

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