Is Blogging Hazardous to Your Health?
April 8, 2008 by Liz Fuller
Filed under Social Media
A few days ago, the New York Times ran an article entitled In Web World of 24/7 Stress, Writers Blog Til They Drop. The article lists three bloggers who had heart attacks in the past few months – all were men, one was 60, another 50, and a third, who survived, was 41. The article also coined a phrase “death by blogging”.
My initial reaction was that this was sensationalist journalism and an affront to these men’s families. I didn’t think they needed to have their loved one’s deaths trivialized by the media in an effort to sell newspapers. Despite the article’s efforts to portray blogging as a dangerous vocation, to me, it seems on par with other corporate or entrepreneurial professions. And I’m sure that any police officer, fireman, farmer or coal miner would be happy to swap risks.
But, I’m willing to be dissuaded of my opinion.
What do you think?
Is the stress, strain and sedentary lifestyle of blogging a hazard to your health?
What do you do to promote good health while still finding time to blog?
photo credit: Matt West
(thanks to Kelly at TaxGirl for pointing out the original article)
Good post Liz!
I think the true culprit is a combination of an unhealthy lifestyle and stress (perhaps induced by workaholic tendencies).
There have long been executives dropping dead from heart and other conditions by following the same lifestyle pattern (poor diet, lack of exercise, allowing one’s self to be stressed over work…).
Somehow, they just don’t make the news when they get sick.
The bottom line from all of this is to make deliberate health-conscious choices and choices that reduce your stress.
I’m glad I’m 39?
All kidding aside, I recently joined a gym and force myself to go at least once per week. My fear is exactly what you write about above. I don’t want to die at the keyboard.
Hi Douglas
Good practice – probably the most important exercise you do is the one where you push yourself away from the laptop and actually go to the gym!
Good Luck!!
Hi Laura
I know I used to be able to handle a lot more stress and long hours than I can now – sometimes I think it’s a shame to be getting older and then sometimes I think it’s good – for self-preservation!!
I used to work 60 hours a week in a thankless marketing job. If this is worse for my health – I’ll gladly take it!
Hi Cherie
Good point!! I’m glad you got out of the 60 hour per week job!! It’s become much too much of an accepted practice in the corporate world!
I do think Cherie makes a good point. While blogging can certainly be time-consuming and addictive (!), there are other jobs that are just as bad.
Many law firms think that they own you. I know firms where they buy you lunch so that you don’t leave the office. Don’t even get me started…
Thanks Kelly! I agree with you on this one.