Writer and Reader Comfort: tools to make writing time easier (part 4) #amwriting #writinglife #reader #booklover #christmasgift #holidaygiftguide

I wrote this post in April but thought it could be helpful as people look for holiday gifts. Get these for the writers or readers in your life!
If you are a writer – or if you work at any job that keepsyou at a desk all day – you may be dealing with pain in the spine. I’ve beencollecting and sharing items my writer friends and I use for managing,soothing, or eliminating that pain.

My friend Teresa says, "I can work only at atable—doesn’t have to be big but it must be a table which makes the laptopmonitor low and that hurts my neck… so for at least eight years I’ve used aroost laptop holder—collapses down to about four 12 inch sticks stuck together,comes with a small bag carrying case." This RoostLaptop Stand is well rated, but you can also find cheaper versions, andI think the   Adjustable Laptop Table  I mentioned a previous post wouldalso work for this.

Meanwhile, my friend Kimberly has been dealing with severehip pain. She says, “I bought aNaipo hand-held electric cord massager about 5 years ago that really helps if Iuse it for at least 10 minutes, the tight muscles will relax enough so that Ican sleep.” I didn’t find the Naipo, but Amazon has tons of Massage Guns at various prices. Be sure to check outthe reviews! Kimberly recommends using a heating pad to warm your muscles before using the massager.

Siting at a desk can contribute to CirculationProblems While Working, as this article shows. Be sure you get up andmove every hour! You might also find some ways to reduce the strain on yourbody at your desk.

Standing desks let you switchbetween standing and sitting without even leaving your desk. You can schedulean alarm to remind you to switch – or do some stretches. While there are veryexpensive options, some of these are around $100.

If you’re standing while you work, you probably want an Anti-Fatigue Mat .These help cushion your feet to reduce foot and joint pain. They’re good if youdo a lot of standing in the kitchen as well! They come in several designs and some fun styles. 

You can also try changing your chair. I mentioned some options in a previous post, but you might try a kneeling chair, balance ball chair, orergonomic stool for “active sitting,” which engages your muscles more topromote core muscle strength, good posture, and blood circulation. Here are someActive Sitting Chair options.

Teresa also recommended the Desk Cycle Ellipse , which sitsunder your desk so you can peddle while you work. What a great way to burncalories, build up leg strength, and keep your blood moving! It has greatreviews, with almost 1800 ratings and a 4.7-star average.

Ihope you find something here that makes your life easier. Check out the previous postson “Writer and Reader Comfort” and  “Comfort at Your Desk” as well. I may have more as I discover useful tools for writersand readers! Feel free to drop your favorites in the comments. As an AmazonAssociate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kris Bockwrites novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In theAccidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles thechallenges of turning fifty. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romanceseries features the employeesand customers at a cat café. In the AccidentalBillionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, whichcauses as many problems as it solves. Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romance newsletter and get a free AccidentalDetective short story and bonus material, a free30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, and aprintable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels.

Krisalso writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrotethe original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The FelonyMelanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends adecade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get ashort story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

Kris has over 100 books for children published under the namesChris Eboch and M. M. Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventureused in many schools; and The Genie’sGift, a middle eastern fantasy. Jesse Owens:Young Record Breaker and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier areinspiring biographies focused on them as children and young men.