Whilst studying for your MSN in nursing administration, you probably spend a lot of your time sat at your desk, on your laptop studying. Or, maybe you sit on your sofa, at a table in the campus library, or even cross-legged on your bed. But, the fact is, no matter where you sit, bad posture and sitting in the same position for prolonged periods of time can lead to joint stiffness and muscle aches, which is why you might suffer from a sore back or shoulders after a long revision session. Thankfully, we’ve got some top tips to help hard-working students banish back pain for good.
Invest in Good Furniture
With the rise in popularity of online programs such as the online RN to MSN programs from Bradley University, more students than ever before are spending more time studying from home. However, whilst home comforts can certainly make academic work a more pleasurable experience, not having the right ergonomic furniture can be bad for your back. And, if you’re tempted to work from bed, this can even lead to insomnia as you won’t be able to rest in your bed at night. So, investing in an ergonomic chair and a wide desk is definitely wise.
Take Short Breaks
When revising for finals or writing up an important paper, you might be tempted to simply sit and get as much work as you can done for hours on end. However, although you certainly may be able to power through, you’re likely to suffer from aches and pains as a result. Taking a short break of 5-10 minutes every hour or so to stretch your muscles and walk around will keep you pain-free and give you an energy boost.
Drink Water
Whilst you’re sat studying, drinking water will help to keep your body and your muscles hydrated, which will keep the cartilage in your joints soft and reduce pain and discomfort. Along with this, having a bottle of water to hand will also help to ward off headaches, boost your mood, clear your mind and help you to focus, all things that are handy when you’re working towards a top grade.
Exercise Daily
Along with making sure that you’ve got a good posture when you’re sitting to work, exercising daily will also help to strengthen your muscles and joints, helping you to avoid back pain even when studying for long periods of time. Adding weight lifting into your gym routine will help to improve bone density, something which can contribute to the reduction of joint aches and pains.
Avoid Squinting or Straining
If you find yourself squinting at the screen to work or straining to hear when using a webcam or watching a video, this could be affecting your posture and contributing to back pain. Ensuring that you’re up to date with sight testing is essential, and using a headset can enable you to retain good posture when listening to sound or communicating online.
As a student, hunching over your laptop revising for hours on end can lead to pain in your back. With these tips, you can banish back pain for good and reduce unwanted distractions.