[vkazanov]

Had this experience about 6-8 years ago, when I was 30ish. You know, a bunch of programming hobbies + a programming job + active writing as a hobby + not enough cardio activity.

It all started with a mild discomformt. Then the discomfort becomes something like mild but constant pain in fingers, hands, arm joints where the nerves are. Not pain-pain but unpleasant sensation. Then my fingertips went numb. And it was getting worse with every week.

My company had a great insurance so I went through a bunch of doctors. What they said was "all relatively fine FOR NOW, nerve microtraumas accumulate but don't get enough time to restore".

In the meantime I couldn't do anything that involved touching a keyboard or a screen. A trivial phone call was a problem.

It took a while but I had to reassess my relationship with computers and health.

1. I started doing cardio. Walk a lot. 10k+ steps a day integrated into my routine. Kettlebells and running. Weightlifting. Weight control. The point is to increase blood flow everywhere and let the body fix itself. 2. Less stupid typing, more smart typing. 3. No mechanically clicking keyboards and mice. That's is a nerve hit 1000s right there times a day.

It didn't happen over a month, or even a year. The habit refresh took a long time to develop, years.

But I have my hands back! As a side effect I am in a good shape now, definitely better than in my early 30s.

[boppo1]

> 2. Less stupid typing, more smart typing.

Can you elaborate?

[vkazanov]

I try to pick my battles carefully. This means think thing through proactively. Additional OSS projects happen first in my head then in code.

My hands do feel better these days but I don't just assume healthy hands. Typing is a resource I manage the same way I manage time.

[jxnlco]

agreed!

[bauta-steen]

When you mention:

> 3. No mechanically clicking keyboards and mice. That's is a nerve hit 1000s right there times a day.

I'm curious how do you go about replacing the keyboard? You can replace the mouse with touchpads, touchscreens, trackballs etc. but what is you effective keyboard replacement (speech to text maybe)? Or do you mean no clicky-switches (for example Cherry blue)?

[tgaj]

I think he meant "no mechanically clicking" as "less typing mindlessly".

[vkazanov]

No, mechanical clicks, as in "click-click", something that makes small physical jump.

[depr]

>3. No mechanically clicking keyboards and mice

You mean you don't use a mouse or use it infrequently?

[bauta-steen]

Not OP either, for me due to RSI I've switched to use a touchscreen when I can, and alternate the mouse between left/right when I have to use one (Ergo mouse and similar never seemed to do anything for me). As well as a super light/smooth keyswitch keyboard (Fujitsu Libertouch with cut domes).

[vkazanov]

That might work for some ppl but in my case my fingertips were a problem too.

Light keyswitch keyboards do help, yes. Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard in my favourite but these things are very individual.

[vkazanov]

Even though I am a linux guy, I use the Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (NOT the more recent Surface one, it's horrible).

[MrDresden]

Also a Linux guy and have gone through 3x Sculpts over the years. They are pretty great for their price.

[gmane]

Not OP, but I had a boss who specifically bought ambidextrous mice and would switch hands every hour (or so).