9 Reasons You Need to Unplug

Reduced Muscle Pain

Studies have shown that eyestrain and other painful optic symptoms, like twitching, appear in 50 to 90 percent of those who spend their days working behind a computer. (A number of factors can contribute to this, from the fluorescent lights above your workstation to the brightness of your monitor.) That in addition to improperly positioned desks and screens can force people to sit in ways that misalign their spinal column and legs, making their muscles feel tight. "The posture you have when sitting at your desk typing promotes upper cross and lower cross syndromes, both which are associated with muscle pain and tightness," says Coopersmith.

To prevent chronic pain from hunching, make sure you're sitting with your knees at a 90-degree angle, invest in ergonomic equipment like a chair and wrist supports -- or even better, get up from your desk and talk to your coworker in person instead of picking up the phone or firing off another e-mail.