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Explanation of the importance of physical mental and emotional health in technical writing. Also refer to illness, disease, stress, demanding, unrealistic demands, environment, sick building, documentation, technical communication, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Importance of Health in Technical Writing
by Ron Kurtus (revised 27 April 2003)
In your role as a technical writer, it is important that you are both physically and emotionally healthy. You can't do a good job at writing, if you don't feel well. Being healthy gives you energy and mental alertness and allows you to write more effectively. You can maintain your health by taking care of yourself and avoiding toxic situations.
Questions you may have include:
- What determines good health?
- Why is it important for a writer?
- How can a technical writer maintain his or her health?
This lesson will try to answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Good health
Health concerns both physical and emotional well-being.
Physical health
Being physically healthy means that your body is functioning as it should, without pain, discomfort, or lack of capabilities. Causes of ill health include injuries, disease, diet, stress, old age and genetics.
Emotional health
Being emotionally or mentally healthy means that your mind and emotions are functioning as they should, without anxiety, depression or other malfunctions. Causes of mental ill health include physical disease, stress, genetics and mental abuse.
Importance of good health
Being physically healthy is of prime importance in life. Being ill or not feeling well can drastically affect your work. Obviously, if you feel physically and mentally healthy, you can be more productive, as well as happier in your writing.
Emotional well-being is also important. Suffering stress, depression, anxiety or other mental or emotional ailments can affect your work and even your physical health. It is important to be emotionally healthy in order to write effectively.
Work is only one part of your life. You want to be able to enjoy all aspects of your life and to live a long, productive and enjoyable life. Being healthy will also allow you to gain knowledge and skills, do excellent work, be valuable to your employers and be honorable to those with whom you work.
Maintaining health
Having an attitude of simply taking care of yourself will do wonders in maintaining your physical and mental health.
Physical health
Writers sometimes abuse their physical health by sitting at their computers too long, drinking too much coffee and not getting enough exercise. You should make sure you take care of yourself. You should also know how to deal with illness or injury by appropriate health care.
A healthy work environment is also important. The "sick building syndrome" can affect people and their health. If you suspect an unhealthy work environment, speak up or do something to rectify the situation.
Emotional health
Within the work environment, you want to avoid situations that cause excess stress. Continuous unrealistic deadlines, an overbearing supervisor, and excess criticism can affect a writer's emotional health.
You should be aware of these problems and try to avoid negative situations. Learn to deal with stress and not to sweat the small stuff. If you can't bear the negative atmosphere around you, seek to move on to a healthier emotional environment.
Summary
You want to function properly both physically and mentally or emotionally. Unhealthy habits and stressful working conditions can affect your health, as well as your ability to write. You should take care of your health and work environment, so that you can feel good and be productive.
Feel good every day
Resources
The following resources provide information on a writing career.
Websites
Society for Technical Communication
Books
Top-rated
books on Technical Writing
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Technical Writing. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Importance of Health in Technical Writing