I’m currently reading it at 3am because I can’t “switch off” from blogging late into the evening.

Oh and I’m sick right now, probably from lack of “not blogging”.

I don’t even have a chair, I blog slumped over on my couch. Well I actually have a home office with a computer chair, but I always end up on the couch with my macbook.

You’ve got me thinking it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Thanks for the great post!

http://www.csnchairs.com/Herman-Miller%AE-AE211PWxT-HML1016.html

for work and I love it. And as an added bonus, it’s eco-friendly :)

It’s good that you remind us to be healthy at all times. I made a similar post about a month ago and ironically, I made it after I was hospitalized. Although the cause was not really related to blogging, I asked my doctor about my blogging health.

Your post has similar advise from my doctor esp. the chair. However, I want to add one more thing. You see, here in the Philippines desk top is still a bit popular than laptop.

I strongly suggest that it should be cleaned outside everyday before using to remove the accumulated dust the whoie day.

Thanks.

Also, all jobs can be stressful. Before blogging, I was a lawyer. (Well, I still am but don’t practice now.) Talk about stress…

As one commenter said, exercise, eating right, taking regular breaks.

I treat blogging like a real job. I start at the same time each day, take breaks at specified times, go to lunch and I get off at the same time each day.

Right now I’m breaking my rule, because I just had surgery and am still sleeping off the anesthesia (great stuff!)

But for the most part, there needs to be some normalcy in your life. I feel bad for the survivors of the bloggers that died.

I just put up a post on this with Gen. Y bloggers’ reactions to the article – http://schiffreport.blogspot.com/2008/04/generation-y-bloggers-respond-to-nyt.html

That being said, I think it does raise a few issues about blogging either for money or on professional topics. Getting into blogging for an income is a dangerous route to take, as much because you need to have a passion and desire to write rather than just a desire to make money. When you don’t have that passion then perhaps there is a greater attempt to provide sheer quantity, but it’s quality than wins out.

And the quality is the big thing. Even though most of the advice about writing in general, and developing blog traffic specifically, talks about the importance of writing every day…sometimes I think that goes too far. Sometimes it’s just not worth pushing yourself to write something mediocre, it’s better to take a break. Come back refreshed and write one great article and your blog will be more desirable than one with three dull equivalents.

Being in a prolonged battle with an undefeatable opponent is among the worst of stressors.

When a blog is allowed to be viewed as an ‘opponent’, to be conquered, it can be devastating, over time. Because, no matter how many times you punch it, even knock it to the mat, it never STAYS down. It always springs back, spits in your face and screams for more!

I try to see it as a friend, a demanding one perhaps, but a friend nevertheless. A friend that I enjoy spending time with…on my terms.

The key factor is enjoyment, when my blog turns on me, as it sometimes does, it is no longer enjoyable or healthy..it’s time to walk away…for awhile (guilt free).

you and problogger.com are also mentioned in a piece about blogger’s health, 2 days ago, on the main Italian newspaper (il Corriere).
Here’s an online version of the piece:
http://www.corriere.it/scienze_e_tecnologie/08_aprile_06/stress_blog_salute_abe29fc6-0400-11dd-bca3-00144f486ba6.shtml

So, step away from the computer and go do something that is fun.

Maybe once I achieve the dream of quitting-the-day-job-and-freelancing, I’ll sell The Office Diet and launch The Blogger Diet … ;-)

Ali

1. Define blogging hours and stick to them.
That helps for better organizing and tunung the mind.

2. Sleep well and sleep enough.
If you don’t sleep enough, you’ve got no creativity and mood for blogging.

3. Exercise before blogging.
I do a short – 30 minutes – fast walk in the neighbourhood. This stimulates my body and my mind and prepares me for the blogging process.

4. Focus on blogging when blogging.
When I am going to blog I forget about everything. No eating. No drinking. No phone calls. This helps me do the things faster and be more effective.

5. Eat fresh food.
The good food stimulates my brain and the whole body. I tend to eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts. Everythign that stimulates my boy and mind helps me stay healthy and be a better blogger.

I hope these rules could be useful for you.

Good luck,
William

http://joe.bloggingexpertise.com/205/your-health-and-your-blogging/

@ourmonmouth I do agree it did seem tabloid’ ish and the author of the article should have looked in contributing factors more closely and also should have backed his story up with supporting health data.

To Darren’s readers who commented on his post here please take a moment to also check my article out as to what I had to say about this. This has also been a source of discussion over at Web Pro News by Jason Lee Miller.