Take Great Care of Your Hands

Make sure you have great lighting at your computer or beading work station. Proper lighting will help you maintain great posture, thus preventing strain and pressure on the shoulders, neck, arms, wrists and hands. Use an Ott Light lamp for beading if you can - I have found no better lamp for lighting a beading area. I can see even the smallest beads, including black beads at night(!) and can distinguish colors easily, thus preventing eye strain and neck and arm strain and pain. Make use of a magnifier lamp or a good pair of reading glasses will make a huge difference, too. Straining to see our beads and beadwork is a major cause of neck, shoulder, arm and hand strain. If you already have a lamp you love that uses incandecent lightbulbs, try using a full spectrum light bulb to brighten up your workspace.

Proper seating is also overlooked as a preventative for RSI. Make sure your computer and beading chairs are at the proper height and level for you to see the screen without strain and to work on beading projects without having to bend, reach or strain excessively. You can find lots of great ergonomic seating options these days, ranging from the highly adjustable Herman Miller Aeron Chair to an ergonomic knee chair or even a Ball Chair!