Computer pain and Semi-Supine
Transforming poor performers into productive workers
Jim starts to make typo after typo until his work becomes useless. He wanders off for a cup of coffee and a chocolate bar. That helps for a while but, soon, work comes to a complete stop as Jim starts on a string of unnecessary personal emails. Next day, Jim is off with a bad back.
Do your employees’ minds seem to wander around the office as aimlessly as planets? Have you noticed your employees’ productivity slowing down to a crawl around 3pm?
…but what’s mind-wandering got to do with taking the next day off with a bad back anyway?
The connection between mind-wandering and a bad back
The mind-wandering is just the first symptom
…the first symptom of a deeper malaise
…and this malaise is rampant in most offices.
What is this mysterious malaise and how can you sort it?
The malaise in your office
Sitting all day in front of a computer is not easy. People sag.
People squirm. Their minds wander. Their backs hurt. They can’t work.
Hence ergonomics. Ergonomics looks at the work set-up and tries to correct it.
…but the set-up is only a small part of the problem.
Ergonomics is not the answer. If people don’t know how to sit easily, they will sag — and squirm. Their minds will wander. Their backs will hurt
…and no amount of adjusting the set-up will solve the problem.
Instead, athletic training is required.
Your workers need to get into training
It’s just like an athlete doing interval training.
To train to run the 400 metres faster, a sprinter needs first to run
…then to rest. (Until they’ve had that rest, their muscles are flagging, too tired to keep going).
Then the sprinter can run again — and again put everything they’ve got into it
…then they rest again
…then they run some more.
Two things happen as a result. First, the athlete can keep training and keep running: keep putting their best effort in. Second, because they’re able to train more, their muscles build strength, flexibility and stamina much faster than they ever could if they didn’t get all that training in.
Sitting well for long periods is indeed an athletic exercise
The untrained worker simply cannot do it. Hence the mind-wandering, the bad backs — and the repetitive strain injuries.
To sit and work efficiently at a desk for eight hours a day, a worker needs to get into training. Give them the means to do it and you will get better work and far fewer health issues.
Do you have any athletes in training?
If you have a worker who is learning the Alexander Technique, then, yes, you do. They’re making the effort. All you need to do is to support them in their effort.
You know the saying: “You can take a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”?
So, of course, you can’t make a worker do what’s good for them
…but if they decide to do it themselves, you can support them in that.
If your horse wants to drink, then make sure you provide the water.
Providing the water
…or more precisely, the water trough.
What your staff need is a place where they can lie down on the floor, just briefly, every so often.
They need no fancy equipment to do this. Just a very small space where it’s safe to lie down — and permission to take mini-breaks.
(Done often enough, 60 seconds at a time on the floor is usually all they need).
“There’s no space in the office”
“Anywhere I allowed them to lie down, there would be people stepping over or around them. It would be a serious trip hazard. The health and safety people would not allow it.”
Yes, I realise space is an issue in most offices. However, remember the benefits if you take the trouble to create a safe place for lying down: better work and far fewer health issues.
Do you think it might be worth that trouble?
“How often will they need to lie down?”?
Even once or twice a day is far better than not at all. I’ve made a detailed recommendation in an earlier article: “How to sit at a computer for eight hours without pain”. Even once or twice a day is far better than not at all. I’ve made a detailed recommendation in an earlier article which you can read here.
Remember what you get in return for providing your workers with this little space: better work and far fewer health issues. Do you think your health and safety people might be interested in a simple scheme to reduce the incidence of back pain and repetitive strain injuries?
So, when Jim starts learning the Alexander Technique, give him the space to lie down — and watch his productivity soar.
Stand back and watch as an aimlessly wandering planet slowly transforms into a star performer.
This article is included under the following categories:‒
- Sit at work without pain or computer ergonomics
- Semi-supine (Constructive Rest Position)
- Rsi pain in arm wrist and hand
Personal Coaching by Philip Pawley
If you want to get the best kind of help, come to me for an introductory lesson in Liverpool.
If you’re too far away, then the next best thing is to get personal lessons and advice from me online at Repoise.com, my on-line school. (Both far-away and local pupils use Repoise).
In more detail:–
If you’re in Liverpool (or can get to Liverpool)
- There’s nothing better than individual lessons. My practice is at 37 Hope Street, Liverpool L1. Ring me on 0151 708 6172 to book an initial consultation and first lesson. (Leave your number so I can get back to you).
-
If you’re short of funds, you can still have first class training from me — though it will require a little more work on your part.
The thing to do is have an individual, in-person lesson just once a month. That will entitle you to also get regular on-line lessons from me through Repoise. That way, you have the best of both worlds: in-person lessons and very regular, even daily, on-line Personal Coaching by Philip Pawley from me. That’s a real bargain because Repoise costs the equivalent of three lessons a year to everyone else.
Ring me on 0151 708 6172 if you want to arrange this.
- I occasionally run group lessons. If you’re interested in these, go here for details.
If you’re further away and can’t get to Liverpool
- There’s still nothing better than individual lessons. Here’s where you can find a teacher near you in the UK or elsewhere
- I suggest you also get direct day-to-day guidance from me by joining Repoise.
If you’re having plain Alexander Technique lessons from someone else, you still need to discover the Smiling Back Method of the Alexander Technique. You’ll get a lot more out of your lessons when you do.
37 Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 9EA, England
Telephone: +44 151 708 6172 Mobile: +44 7872 905 154
Copyright © 2007-2012 Philip Pawley
SmilingBackMethod.com
