Article by Colette Nichol, Solo Filmmaker and Story Strategist
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Olympic swimmers may spend a few hours in the pool a day.
That seems like a lot. But how many hours a day do you spend holding a mouse!?!
The average Olympic athlete trains between 4 and 6 hours every day.
For most of us, that seems unimaginable. I barely get through my morning run every day. When it comes to computing though, I’m the equivalent of an Olympic athlete. I actively use a computer as much as a pro athlete uses their limbs. If you have an office job or do a lot of video editing or design work, you probably do too.
Video editors are the pro athletes of computer users.
Editing is such a high-intensity computer activity that it’s common for video editors to get a serious arm or wrist injury from their work. For animators, it’s even worse. Most animators burn out after about ten years – they bust up their wrists and have to find a new career.
A few years ago, I began my own dark dance with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Shooting pain up my wrist and into my arm meant I could barely use a computer. But I had to. Many of my passions rely on me being able to use a computer quickly and effectively.
So I made it my mission to figure out how to prevent pain while using a computer.
Step number one is to go see an outstanding physiotherapist get some good exercises. Step number two is to do all the things I recommend in this week’s episode of The Microfilmmaker.
If you’ve ever had arm pain, wrist pain, back pain, or neck pain while sitting in your office working away, then this video is for you. Plus, if you’re already a heavy computer user and you plan on taking up video editing, you need to be armed (pun intended) with the right tools to prevent an injury.
There’s no sense in learning a new skill only to have it ripped away from you when your arm decides it doesn’t want to cooperate any longer.
And even if you don’t have much pain right now, the tools I’m sharing in this video will make your work life and editing life A LOT more enjoyable.
You might actually like sitting at your desk again.
Learn Filmmaking and Get the Gear Guide
If you’re interested in learning filmmaking, check out the Solo Filmmaking Mentorship Program I created for aspiring filmmakers and video creators. It usually goes live once per year. So I recommend getting the Story Envelope Filmmaking letter which comes out a couple of times per month. That way, you can get filmmaking tips for free and find out when the filmmaking course is going live again.
Also, before you go, grab the Solo Filmmaking Gear Guide and Checklist for Beginners.
About the Author
Hi! I’m Colette Nichol. I’m a solo filmmaker and story strategist based out of rainy Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been making videos and micro films for small businesses and global brands since 2014.
Plus, I LOVE to help aspiring filmmakers pursue their dreams and start making films. This blog is designed to help you gain the knowledge you need to become a filmmaker.
If you want more, get on the waitlist for the Story Envelope Academy Solo Filmmaking Mentorship Program. It opens up one time per year and is the best way to become a filmmaking or video pro fast!
CLICK HERE to get on the solo filmmaking mentorship waitlist.
