It’s no surprise that people are looking down more and more often. Cell phones, TVs, and workstations are now more prevalent than ever before, and as a result, more and more people suffer from neck ailments that are not getting better. While prevention is extremely valuable in counteracting these potentially harmful activities, the fact is that many people cannot get away from technology. The question then becomes: What am I to do if I have to use a screen for large parts of my day?
Most of these suggestions are going to be simple, but in reality, simple recommendations are best because they’re realistic for the everyday person to implement. Sure, I could suggest that everyone get a standing desk, but the reality is that most people cannot afford a high-quality standing desk — and even if they could buy one, it may not solve all of their issues.
The first suggestion that I would give to most people would be to take more short breaks during the day. Breaks like the ones I am describing can be as simple as standing up a few times an hour for 20-40 seconds. These breaks do not have to disrupt productivity, and they likely won’t if you time them correctly.
Another suggestion is to make some subtle changes to your workstation. If your monitor is too low, put a box or a book underneath it to raise it up. If your monitor is too far away, simply move it closer. Again, this is very simple and at first it might not seem effective, but over time it can help a lot.
Finally, I’d recommend that you visit a chiropractor. If your neck and upper back are out of alignment, you’ll experience heightened pain and suffering when using your devices for long periods of time. Chiropractors can realign your joints and help alleviate your tech neck.