How to be a comfortable PC gamer

Are you comfortable?

This isn't your guardian speaking. From gamer to gamer, I know that feeling uncomfortable, stiff, or otherwise generally unpleasant is the scourge of us all. But it doesn't have to be that way. Nerds deserve comfort, too!

Joking about your headaches and wrist cramps because you're a "nerd" is a cultural norm we should be destroying. But even then, you'd be more of a nerd for following these tips to make your gaming experience longer and better.

So strap down and let's dive in.

F.lux: yellow your screen, save your eyes

One of the simplest solutions to feeling more comfortable during late night or early morning gaming sessions is to give your eyes a break from the glowing blue lights of your screen. Blue light doesn't just hurt your eyes at night- it can even interfere with your sleep cycles!

One of the cheapest solutions is to download the free and small application f.lux, which automatically (if you so wish) "makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day".

But unfortunately, you'll have a harder time on screens you can't simply download applications on and make changes to. In that case...

(Image courtesy of f.lux.)

Nerd Glasses: yellow your eyes, save your screen

You've seen professional gamers wear them, and popular companies like Gunnar tend to sponsor them and streamers. It's the same concept as the previous slide, but instead of downloading an application to get rid of the harsh blue light in a screen, you wear an accessory instead. The good news is you have plenty of options nowadays, ranging from inexpensive to Coach-level, so there's something for everybody. Even major retailers like Best Buy carry them now.

Try searching for "computer glasses" or "gaming glasses." Here's an Amazon search to get you started.

(Image courtesy of Gunnar)

Buy A Foot Rest

Foot rests aren't just for office drones and bloggers (joking). People who are sitting down all day would do well to get some sort of foot rest, regardless of their height. Why? It raises the knees and supports a better sitting position. Foot rests make sure to correct the all-too-common problem of the knees being too far below the hips.

Try to find a foot rest that has a tilting function. You can get them in stores that carry office supplies, and I recommend "trying" them out if you're serious and want to pay for quality.

(Image courtesy of IKEA)

Get Some Wrist Rests

And not just for your keyboard either. If you want to go the full mile on preventing carpal tunnel and general discomfort, PC gamers will want to get a mouse pad with a wrist rest too. You can find these on the cheap in stores that have office supplies and online. Even if you have good typing posture, wrist rests will at the very least make your experience more comfortable.

(Image courtesy of Innovera)

Step Away From the Noise

I'm not one to ask anyone to stop gaming, but there's a correlation between headphone/earphone use and headaches. While most people think of obnoxiously loud MP3 players in public spaces, perhaps we should count those people lucky, because at least they can be told (or sneered at) about their blasting and readjust.

But for gamers, it's usually not a public space. Sometimes we get so caught up in group gaming sessions or in-game boss battles that we don't notice we've been steadily increasing the volume so we don't miss anything. If you notice your head is throbbing a little more than usual, try turning down the volume and letting your ears readjust. If you're more experimental, step away and come back to see if maybe the volume was too loud. Breaks in general are good for your ears (and your brain, too).

Last but not least...know your sitting posture

You've heard it once, you've heard it a million times. In the Digital Age where people are commonly sitting in front of a screen, looking down at tiny devices, and holding one-strap bags full of heavy objects, it's no wonder there is such a push to "sit up straight."

But don't take it to heart. Many people don't actually know the "correct" way to sit, and some may do more harm than good trying to sit too straight. Read up on correct sitting posture and make it a habit. It may take a while to consciously correct it (and I'll admit I'm still working on it), but your back will thank you for it. You can also try buying a chair that offers back and neck support.

Here's an article from the U.S. Department of Labor, but feel free to reference any credible health website.

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)