'Computing is not about computers any more. It is about living.' – Nicholas Negroponte

I've had a lingering migraine for over a week so yesterday I was trying to figure out why it won't go away. I've been getting plenty of sleep, not eating anything bad and continuing to exercise. Then I realised that the two books I'm reading are both ebooks. This means that even in my downtime (and while recovering from the migraine) I've been staring at a screen. I did a quick search and found these two potentially useful websites:

• Migraine Trust – this is a general fact sheet about migraine triggers but offers some information about computer use near the end
• Migraine Relief Centre – this blog has some useful tips about 'light induced migraines' and how to make screens less migraine-inducing

My course of action now is to read a paper book and limit TV watching so that my screen time goes back to a more manageable level. I think I'll also try to make one weekend day a 'no screen' day. That means writing will need to be on paper, no checking social media, no Skype and no TV.

'To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer or a migraine.' – Farmers' Almanac, 1978

I get a lightheaded, cross-eyed feeling after I've been looking at a computer, TV or phone screen for too long. My head seems to buzz and I often feel overwhelmed or anxious. I put all this aside as my own, unique issue and totally manageable (i.e. ignorable). Then, last week I answered a survey about my smartphone and social media usage.

Do you check into social media within five minutes of waking up? Yes. Do you sleep with your phone beside your bed? Yes. Do you use your phone in the middle of the night when you can't sleep? Yes. 

These and other questions made me think perhaps I was becoming addicted to (or at least too reliant on) my phone and the time-wasting qualities of social media. So for the past week I've avoided Facebook and Twitter. I've only used my phone as a phone (and very occasionally as a music player and weather station). It's been good: my head doesn't hurt as often, I've been more aware of how much mindless TV I watch too and reduced that, and I've done some research into migraines and screen time.

I found this Migraine Triggers fact sheet, which talks about a "threshold" rather than "causes" per se. It's a perspective that makes sense, but that I hadn't thought about before. However, now that I read it, it sounds like something my chiropractor has said – perhaps while I had a migraine so I didn't take it in.

This Migraines and Your Job article had some useful reminders which I've heard before, but it helps to be told again. As does this one: Is Working At My Computer Causing My Headaches?. They talk about glare off the screen and from the overhead lights. Also I am reminded that posture is important for reducing neck, back and shoulder tension, which unchecked lead to migraines.

Now I know that 1) I am not alone in feeling the negative effects of staring at a screen, 2) those effects could be contributing to my migraines and 3) I can give up superfluous use of screens without dire consequences. It just remains to figure out how to balance my writing, work and leisure needs against migraine prevention.