You wouldn’t think that being a writer was a particularly dangerous job. Sitting at a desk all day in front of a computer or buried in a notebook doesn’t seem likely to harm your health in any way but you’d be surprised. Even though it might not be the riskiest job in the world, there are actually quite a few health problems that writers are more likely to suffer from. If you’re a writer, these are some of the health issues that you need to watch out for.
Mental Health Issues
In recent years, the scale of mental health problems has become clear and we now know that most people will deal with some form of mental health issues in their lives. However, writers may be at higher risk for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can be a very disheartening profession. There is a lot of rejection involved when you’re querying a book or a script and those constant knockbacks can have a real impact on your self-esteem which can lead to mental health problems over time. A lot of writers really struggle with self-belief and a lot of people give up before they even get started because they convince themselves that they’re not good enough.
Another big problem that a lot of writers face is writer’s block. When you’re stuck on a tricky chapter and you just can’t make any progress, it’s easy to get yourself into a bit of a downward spiral and lose all motivation. If it goes on for a long time, it can lead to a lot of low feelings.
Finally, writing is a very solitary career. The majority of writers work at home on their own all day and that can have a big impact on your mental wellbeing. If you’re working in an office with other people, you can share some of that work stress with others and chat to people when you’re having a hard time. But if you’re a writer and you’re at home all day long with nobody else around, it can get very lonely. These factors can all combine to create a higher chance of mental health issues.
Eye Problems
Staring at a computer screen all day long isn’t good for your eyes, which is a big problem for writers because most of them use a laptop to work on. Prolonged periods on a computer can strain the eyes and, over time, cause a lot of damage. If you’re using a computer every day, it’s always advisable to get regular eye tests. You’ll probably find that you’ll need some reading glasses or maybe even glasses for regular use as you get older. You can easily get cheap contacts and glasses online so it’s not too much of a problem. As long as you catch it early, you can avoid doing further damage to your eyes.
Back Problems
Sitting at a computer all day also causes a lot of problems with the muscles in your back, especially if you’re not staying active. You can avoid this by getting up to move around regularly, ensuring that you always have good posture, and doing stretches in the evenings before you go to sleep to release the tension.
If you work as a writer, you have a higher risk of developing these health problems so it’s important that you take measures to combat them.
