It is important that you keep your fingers in good shape for just about any job you might work – but if you work a desk job, you might not think about the possibility of your fingers getting hurt until it actually starts to happen! Rather than waiting until your fingers get hurt (and then trying to figure out how to make them feel better!), you will be better served making sure you know how to protect your fingers from getting hurt in the first place.
Rest: When you get into a groove on a project, it can be easy to just keep typing and typing, but if you do this, your fingers are much more likely to start hurting from the constant work you are doing. You need to let your hands get a bit of rest at least every fifteen or twenty minutes, and while you are resting your hands, you should let them hang down at your side as you shake them out a bit.
Equipment: The equipment you are typing with is also a big consideration, as keyboards (especially those on a laptop) can put your fingers in a cramped position, which can cause them to start experiencing pain. You can protect your fingers as well as your wrists by getting an ergonomic keyboard if you do a lot of typing at your job.
13 dollars off of a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard!
Pace: Because work is “work,” it is not unusual for you to start working at a really fast pace, trying to finish up all of your projects as quickly as your mind and fingers will let you so that you can move onto things besides “work.” But you should keep your pace in mind, as a steady, leisurely pace of typing will feel a lot better on your fingers in the long run than a rushed, aggressive pace.
By keeping all these things in mind, you will be able to make sure that you are protecting your fingers while you are at work – and in the long run, this will also help you make sure you are more productive!
