Writer and Reader Comfort: Easing Neck Pain- tools to make writing and reading time easier. #amwriting #writinglife #reader #booklover #christmasgift #holidaygiftguide

I wrote this post in April but thought it could be helpful as people look for holiday gifts. Get these for the writers or readers in your life!

At a recent writer’s retreat, we all shared the tools we used to make our writing and reading time more comfortable. It’s amazing all the things you never knew existed that you desperately need! It’s not mere shopping mania though – these tools can help keep you comfortable so you can write your next masterpiece or simply read for hours. 

I made previous posts on “Writer and Reader Comfort” and “Comfort at Your Desk.” Today I’m covering items that can relieve or prevent neck pain.

Easing Neck Pain

You can find dozens of pillows designed to relax your neck and keep its natural curve. There are more expensive versions, but a simple tube works surprisingly well. One of the retreat attendees sleeps on it, whether sleeping on her back or on her side. I use mine for a few minutes before bed and a few minutes in the morning and that’s enough to help work out the knots. Cervical Neck Roll Memory Foam Pillow

This one’s more complicated, with a firmer foam to support your neck. It has over 60,000 ratings and a 4.2-star average! At the time of this writing is on sale for $20, which seems like a great bargain if it might help relieve chronic neck pain: RESTCLOUD Neck and Shoulder Relaxer 

This one is designed specifically for sleeping. How old is your current pillow? Maybe it’s time for an upgrade. This claims to work for people who sleep on their sides, back, or stomach. With over 40,000 ratings, clearly neck pain and sleeping well are big problems: Elviros Cervical Memory Foam Pillow for Sleeping

And here’s a version you can twist into different shapes. You can use it as a regular cervical pillow at night, wrap it around your neck while napping on a plane, or bend one side up to cushion your head against the window if you’re a car passenger. Plus a comes in multiple colors! Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow 

And finally, if you still need some pain relief, this gel offers topical relief. I used to get it from my parents when they bought it in Mexico or got a prescription. Now you can get it over the counter! It’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory gel that people use for arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain. It doesn’t erase the pain but it quickly knocks it down a couple of notches: Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel 

I hope you find something here that makes your life easier. Check out my previous post on tools for comfort, and I have more coming up with useful tools for writers and readers! Feel free to drop your favorites in the comments. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kris Bock writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. Kris’s Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the employees and customers at a cat café. In the Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series, a Texas ranching family wins a fortune in the lottery, which causes as many problems as it solves. Sign up for the Kris Bock Mystery and Romance newsletter and get a free Accidental Detective short story and bonus material, a free 30-page sweet romance set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat café, and a printable copy of the recipes mentioned in the cat café novels.

Kris also writes a series with her brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original screenplay for the movie Sweet Home Alabama. The Felony Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their friends a decade before the events of the movie. Sign up for the romantic comedy newsletter to get a short story preview, or find the books at Amazon US or All E-book retailers.

Kris has over 100 books for children published under the names Chris Eboch and M. M. Eboch. Her novels for ages nine and up include The Eyes of Pharaoh, a mystery in ancient Egypt; The Well of Sacrifice, a Mayan adventure used in many schools; and The Genie’s Gift, a middle eastern fantasy. Jesse Owens: Young Record Breaker and Milton Hershey: Young Chocolatier are inspiring biographies focused on them as children and young men.