Working productively on a computer is not just about maintaining a good to-do list or keeping a calendar by your keyboard, it is also about how you approach your digital tasks and how you find a balance between the frantic activity of typing and the more passive moments of reflection and thought.
Most of us focus too much on the former and too little on the latter, with far more time spent researching, collating and imputing details than on looking at the overall picture. Consequently we develop problems of perspective, focus and the inevitable physical symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury, back ache and eye strain.
This is why either Ergonomix or MacBreakZ could be the tool that will change forever the way you work. Both programs are essentially the same but written for different operating systems: Ergonomix is for Windows whilst MacBreakZ is for OSX.
Both programs will monitor your keyboard and mouse usage - according to the criteria that you set in the preferences - and let you know when it would be advisable to take a break. A count down timer is always on display so that you can see when a break is due and pace your work accordingly.
The Breaks
Each break begins by interrupting your work and bringing a window to the front of your screen. A clock counts down the length of the break whilst a number of stretches, eye exercises and general postural tips are shown. All you need to do is sit back - or sit up - and follow the on-screen images for the time that you have specified. Everything is customisable, so for example, if you need to relax your eyes more than stretch your back, then you can focus on the eye exercises and eliminate the postural ones. If you want a break every half hour or every 3 hours then it is up to you. Whatever your chosen schedule, at the end of each break you are encouraged to get up and move away from the computer before starting work again.
At the beginning you might find yourself resenting such enforced breaks as your old work patterns are broken up, but before long you learn to welcome the breaks as part of your overall working day and learn to use the moments productively. More specifically, MacBreakZ and Ergonomix interruptions give you an opportunity to reassess your work direction, to reevaluate your productivity aims and to simply step back and look at the whole picture before returning to the fine detail of your digital tasks.
