You probably already know that low-impact non-stressful (or non-straining) exercise is good for your health and vision, but you should take a look at other activities and lifestyle choices as well.
My biggest fault was being on the computer all the time.
I spent more than 10 hours a day on the computer - even when I got off of work and had to work the next day. I only went outside to do yard work or to go to the store or to smoke a cigarette.
At one point, I had a little pug to take care of, so that helped to break my time up on the computer.
I worked part time and didn't have a car, so I rode a bike to work. This was in 2013.
But, even before then, I was having issues. First, were the floaters around 2008. I started seeing them soon after the death of my father. I would always see things moving out of the corner of my eye, but when I looked and saw nothing, I thought I was just imagining things. I was deeply depressed at the time and that my mind was playing tricks on me. Also, the way I breathed in and out changed.
I felt more clogged and congested - in my neck and across the bridge of my nose especially. Later, I started to have sharp pains in the crown of my head.
I saw the floaters often, but I also realized my depth perception was a little bit off. I could tell it I played basketball and when I parked the car. This is around 2008 and 2009. In 2009, I moved in with a former co-worker. She had kids and a huge house, so I helped out by babysitting and being a handy-man. I found a part-time job, but I still spent most of my free time with kids or cleaning up.
In 2010, I didn't spend all day on the computer. I was doing a lot of babysitting and yard work, so I was very active. Most of that year, starting in March, I worked part time as well, so that kept me off of the computer as well.
In 2011, I moved again. I bought a bike and was riding about 22 miles per day back and forth to work. Sometimes, I caught the bus, but I preferred to ride the bike.
When I wasn't working, I was on the computer for most of the day. Sometimes, I'd go to the store. Sometimes, I'd sit outside for an hour or two trying to come up with ideas for a new career.
I only played tennis a few times, but that's when I noticed something was really off with my vision. I told my room mate about this when she complained that I wasn't hitting ball back to her hard enough consistently. I tried to explain to her that something was odd about what I was seeing when the ball came towards me, but I couldn't explain it.
It was 2007 (I think) that I started drinking Monster Energy Drinks. I was working full-time in a warehouse at the time. And, it was 3rd shift production, so I was getting plenty of exercise.
Almost every year, from 2007 to 2012, I was active. But, I was also very depressed and smoked more cigarettes. I also chain-smoked a lot. But, one pack of cigarettes would last at least two and a half days.
After 2013 was when I begin to spend more time on the computer and less time outside.
In 2016 or 2017, I worked 3rd shift again, so I got less sunlight in addition to spending less time outside. At one point, I tried to exercise in the morning, but it was a chore to go home, change clothes, then jog or ride my bike to the basketball court.
2015 was the year all of my stress began in addition to feeling depressed. I didn't know at the time that the stress was harming my vision, and I didn't actually SEE it until 2019. I mean, there was some drama between me and my girlfriend, and I actually saw my vision fade (a little) to white, then it got blurry, and went back to normal after about 10 seconds. After that experience, I started to notice it when I was at work, during drama with her, and sometimes, when I had a lot on my mind.
So,this was the gist of my lifestyle and fitness regimine. In the past several months, I have not worked, so I have not been outside much at all. Nor have I been working out or going for walks. I'm just uncomfortable with moving around. I trip over almost everything.
The store is about a quarter of a mile from the house, so I have walked there a couple of times, but I feel uncomfortable with the way some of these people out here drive. And, there are no sidewalks on our streets (except for the main road), so I don't walk the block at all.
I was sitting outside on the back porch and looking at the trees and landscape, but there's not enough privacy to sit and meditate, so I gave up on that.
For the past couple of months, I've been inside. Every once and a while, I'll exercise, but it's only been one day a week on average. I drink a LOT more water, but I dodn't drink too much at a time. I've also been sleeping in a recliner because I'm afraid of lying down and having the pressure build up too high in my eyes. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working.
The congestion and pressure I felt in my neck, face, and head seem to be almost gone, but it's been many years that I had to deal with it. None of the congestion relievers helped.
I've tried meditation and breathing off and on. Sometimes, it seems like it helps. But, often, I can't focus or meditate, so I give up within an hour or so.
Hopefully, I'll be able to change locations in time enough to spend more time outside and to walk and work-out, but in the meantime, I'm trying to take a break from the computer and listen to audiobooks on my phone and tablet.
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