Intelligent PC Use

This week, we’ll be spending some quality time with the digital revolution – that wave of clever gadgets that changed our lives forever. 

Like all the other technology revolutions, this one certainly has its pros and cons. Our mission is simple: catch all the pros and dodge all the cons. 

And what better place to start than the digital agent that first infiltrated our homes: the personal computer (PC).

Ergonomics

This should be top priority for anyone spending a sizable chunk of their day on a PC.

Make sure your work space features the following work and life enhancers:

  1. A supportive chair at a height where your feet comfortably rest on the floor. 
  2. Positioning of your mouse and keyboard so that your forearms (and the entire weight of your arms) can rest comfortably on a flat surface. 
  3. Positioning of your monitor so that your neck is always in a comfortable position. 

Movement 

It’s vital to get into the habit of moving your body at least once per hour. 

Actually, there are some studies that want us to get up every 30 minutes, but I find that too disruptive. 

A fitness watch that buzzes when you’ve been stagnant for one hour is just the right tool for the job. The cheap Mi Band 4 discussed earlier helped me to finally get this right. 

Discipline

Creating a comfortable environment for PC use is awesome when you’re at your productive best, but wrought with danger when you’re getting lost in Netflix or YouTube. 

The single best antidote for this slow poison oozing from your PC is RescueTime. 

You can use it to block distracting websites after a certain amount of time, depending on whether it’s work hours or not. It also gives you some eye-opening statistics on how you use your PC. 

Efficiency

There are three keys to graduating from PC user to PC master:

  1. Become an expert in the software you use regularly as well as your chosen operating system. A good test of your expertise is how many keyboard shortcuts you know by heart. 
  2. Two words… Blind typing. 
  3. Excellent organization of your files (including fully automatic cloud backup), combined with a keystroke launcher like Launchy. 

Comfort

Those who have mastered the movement habit, good discipline and high efficiency have earned the privilege of taking ergonomics to the next level: genuine comfort.

Personally, I do most of my work on my PC in a comfortable recliner in front of my TV, which serves only as a computer screen. 

Over here in the far North, I’m always working under a lovely soft duvet, often with a nice cup of hot tea on the table beside me. This makes the process of working on my PC deeply pleasant. 

So, once you’ve proven yourself worthy, proudly claim your just reward: a luxuriously comfortable workstation 🙂