The internet age has changed the front of communication and information exchange. Of course, this is all thanks to the invisible codes behind our computer screens. Casual computer users may not be aware of it, but a gazillion zeroes and ones are a crucial part of our daily lives!
The computer age is founded on a series of codes fueled by sleepless nights, red bull, instant ramen, pizza, takeout Chinese, and thousands of hours of screen time.
Let’s face it. Programming requires intense focus to draft and test those strings of codes. However, the focus and good work ethics you have may lead to the development of a few bad lifestyle habits.Â
5 Healthy Lifestyle Tips for Programmers
Programmers are prone to miss meals, sleep, and physical activities. With the tips below, you can break the norm and lead a healthier lifestyle.Â
1. Get restful sleep
It’s tempting to take a nap on the couch or your desk, especially with a tight deadline. However, you wake up still feeling tired. The key here is to get restful sleep.
By restful sleep, we’re not referring to a nap on a couch that most busy people tend to go for. You can only achieve restful if you have a comfortable yet supportive bed. If you’re on the heavier side, sleeping on a mattress dedicated to heavy persons is the best option for you.
2. Eat healthy food packed with vitamins
Since you don’t have time to cook, takeout or delivery is a convenient choice. You don’t have to cook, and cleanup is a breeze. However, many takeout food choices are heavily seasoned. Most of them are fried with no nutritional value.
Unhealthy eating habits, combined with a less active lifestyle, is the perfect recipe for chronic lifestyle acquired diseases. You don’t get failing kidneys and shooting blood pressure overnight. Many lifestyle diseases can be easily avoided thru a mindful selection of food and exercise.
We are in an advanced era now, and almost everything can be delivered to your doorstep. Here’s a hack: choose healthy food delivery options. Enjoy this service, and have some fruits delivered to you. Fried chicken is not the only choice! Skip the soda and get some smoothie or a salad too.Â
Lastly, watch the portion of the food you eat! Make sure to eat more protein and fiber-rich foods and consume carbohydrates only in moderation.Â
3. Move around
Our heart is responsible for ensuring that every organ and tissue in the body receives adequate blood supply. That’s why the health of our hearts should be our main priority.Â
We hate to tell you this, but there’s no other way to strengthen the heart muscle than working out. The best exercise would be cardiovascular exercises like running, jogging, running, swimming, and the likes.Â
You can have infinite reasons to skimp on working out. For your sake, though, make time to do at least 10 minutes of exercise. A little exercise is better than no exercise at all. You don’t have to go for a marathon on your first try. Brisk walking for half an hour would be a great start. Park away from the building entrance and circle around the block a few times before going in. Heck, ditch the elevator!
4. Take breaks
When you’re intensely focused on what you are working on, taking a break may seem like a waste of time. Breaktime may even seem unnecessary when a colossal task with a tight deadline is in front of you.
Although the focus is there, the brain function may get a little hazy from all the information it has been processing for the last few hours. It would be helpful to take a few minute breaks from time to time to keep the brain sharp. Taking a break can also help you shift your perspective, see your output on a broader light, and account for some errors you might have missed while you were intensely focused.
5. Hydrate
Have you ever wondered why it’s recommended to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day? Well, the human body is made of about 60% water. Imagine a car engine that doesn’t have enough oil. This would result in faster wear and tear since there will be more friction than a well-lubricated engine.
Brain function, muscle function, and other functions of the body organs would start to perform at sub-optimal levels when you get dehydrated. Don’t drink when you’re parched. Hack your fluid intake. If you don’t have a water cooler near you, get a tumbler and place it beside you!
Final Words
The movies have shown us that programmers don’t have the luxury of time to sleep well, enjoy a meal, or exercise. Well, that shouldn’t be the case! The deadlines may be tight, and we get that. Everything is always on a tight schedule.
Sleeping, exercising, and preparing healthy dishes seems like a waste of time, especially if you have a deadline to catch. But think of it, if you live a healthier lifestyle, you would have the optimal brain function to beat those deadlines.
Also Read: 15 Things That Programmers Can Do To Stay Fit!
