In an article on attention, this bit about physical strength:
“The damage done by sitting 8+ hours a day is underrated. You need a way to offset this damage, especially if you plan to work in this field for decades.”
– Attention Is My Most Valuable Asset for Productivity as a Software Developer
There are enough studies about the ills of sitting for extended periods of time that are a quick search away. We have also seen earlier this year how I use the Fitbit wearable device’s hourly reminder to get 250 steps in as a guard against sitting for too long.
But in terms of exercise, I have seen the most payoff from simply strengthening my core. A strong core means better posture, which means less slouching, which means less strain on your back. It means less tension on your shoulders as you use your keyboard and trackpad. And because you’re sitting straighter, it means you breathe better – coming full circle to attention. Strengthening a single area has significantly improved how tired and unfocused I feel by the time I wind up work.