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Health Myths We Tell in Tech

Matthew Bergman
May 28, 2014
120

Health Myths We Tell in Tech

The 10x programmer is a unicorn. We love to lionize the amount of dedication, time, and thought that goes into creating great software -- but we forget the very real cost it can entail, both emotionally and physically, on the programmer. Depression, RSI, burnout: these are all real issues facing our field.

I have many friends who have dealt with these, and I've dealt with RSI myself. I'd like to share my experience and all the mistakes I have made while dealing with them.

I do not come with quick fixes or a bullet list. Preventative measures only go so far. One does not simply walk into good health. It is a methodical process.

One can, though, be aware of what to think and worry about, and how to deal and go forward if one is dealing with health problems. I promise you knowledge, laughs, and the ability to help anyone going through these issues, be it a friend or yourself.

Matthew Bergman

May 28, 2014
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Transcript

  1. THIS IS A MYTH THAT SILICON VALLEY / STARTUP CULTURE

    HAS CREATED TO MAKE YOU FEEL BAD FOR HAVING A LIFE!
  2. DOUBLE FISTING RED BULLS AND POPPING ADDERALL TO KEEP UP

    WITH A 50-70 HOUR WORK WEEK IS A LOSING GAME
  3. TV

  4. YOU CAN’T LOOK AT A PERSON AND KNOW IF THEY’RE

    HEALTHY YOU CAN’T LOOK AT YOURSELF AND KNOW THAT YOU'RE HEALTHY
  5. YOU NEED TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO

    WITH THE ENERGY YOU HAVE LEFT
  6. THERE IS A MYRIAD OF SYNDROMS / DISEASES THAT FALL

    UNDER RSI CARPAL TUNNEL CUBITAL TUNNEL RADIAL TUNNEL GUYON’S CANYON SYNDROM DE QUEVAIN SYNDROME FOCAL DYSTONIA
  7. IT’S THE BUILD UP OF MICRO-TRAUMAS TO MUSCLE AND LIGAMENTS

    ! INFLAMMATION OF MUSCLES AND NERVES
 SCAR TISSUE GETTING IN THE WAY OF MOVEMENT; BINDING DOWN YOUR MUSCLES
  8. HYPERSENSITIVITY IN THE PINKY AND RING FINGER SHARP PAIN IN

    THE ELBOW PAIN IN THUMBS PAIN IN SHOULDERS DEVASTATING PAIN IN NECK
  9. I

  10. YOU ARE A BUNCH OF FAILING TAP TESTS TO DOCTORS

    THERE IS NO STACK OVERFLOW FOR YOUR BODY
  11. IT’S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO WHILE IN A LOT

    OF PAIN EVERY MOVEMENT OF MY HANDS DURING THIS TALK WAS AGONY
  12. I HAVE SPENT TENS OF HOURS TRYING TO LEARN TO

    SQUAT WITH GOOD FORM POSTURE AND MOVEMENT ARE PARAMOUNT YOU DON’T WANT TO HURT YOURSELF MORE
  13. YOGA OR PILATES ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE

    WITH PREVENTION OF RSI AND REMISSION OF SYMPTOMS
  14. BUT

  15. I MEAN YOU COULD USE YOUR CHILDREN AS WEIGHTS !

    THEY DO GET HEAVIER WITH TIME
  16. HEALTH BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS TO BE A TENET

    OF OUR INDUSTRY NOT SOMETHING YOU DO AFTER WORK
  17. YOUR BODY WILL BE WITH YOU LONG AFTER YOUR JOB,

    YOUR STARTUP, YOUR LANGUAGE IS GONE
  18. LIMITED BUT USEFUL INFORMATION SCIENTIFIC OF STUDY OF SUPER SLOW

    DETAILS MULTIPLE WAYS TO STRENGTH TRAIN BEST BOOK ON EXERCISE FREE WEIGHT FORM GREAT BOOK ON STRETCHES AND EXERCISE TO RELIEVE PAIN PER MUSCLE GROUP OVERVIEW OF MULTIPLE TYPES OF RSI AND HOW THEY PROGRESS AND IMPROVE IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO MOVEMENT DISFUNCTION BROAD BUT INTERESTING FOR HISTORY AND CONTEXT