The COVID pandemic may be winding down in the United States, but some of the societal changes from last year are carrying over into this one. One of those is the fact that many Americans continue to work at home.
As of last year, around 75 million people began working exclusively at home. Today, many continue to do so.
While working at home might be great for COVID, it’s not the best for other health issues, like eye strain. As we stare at screens for longer than ever, taking steps to protect your wellbeing is more important than ever.
Unsure how to do that?
Read on to learn about how you can give yourself some much-needed eye strain relief.
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Practice Good Posture
Next time you’re typing away at the computer, take a moment to consider how you’re sitting. Is your back straight and erect, or are you slumped over in the shape of a “C”?
If you find yourself in the latter position, you’re going to want to make practicing good posture a priority. Besides affecting your back, bad posture can also impact your eyes.
Sitting up straight promotes proper blood flow to all parts of your body, including your eyes. It also naturally keeps your head farther away from the computer screen.
Let There Be Light
If you’re a gamer or someone who enjoys watching movies or TV shows on your computer, it might seem tempting to turn off the lights. After all, less light means a more cinematic experience.
Try to avoid doing this, as it’s terrible for your eyes. You’ll find yourself getting headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes in a matter of minutes.
You’ll want to find a balance between too much light and not enough. Strip lights, string lights, and other softer options can provide you with the light your eyes need without being intrusive.
Use Bigger Fonts
If you’ve ever tried reading a book with a tiny font, you might have noticed that you started to get a headache. The same thing can happen when you’re staring at fonts on a computer screen that are too small.
Making fonts bigger on devices like your phone, tablet, and computer can help cut back on eye strain. You should never find yourself squinting to decipher a piece of text.
You can also look into switching over to Dark Mode. Check out this guide to get a better understanding of how to do that: https://setapp.com/how-to/youtube-dark-mode.
Don’t Forget to Blink
While it may sound obvious, make sure you’re blinking while working on a computer.
Many people involuntarily forget to blink when they’re invested in something on a screen. Make a conscious effort to blink every few seconds. You can also try closing your eyes for a few seconds at a time if you’re starting to experience eye strain.
Blinking provides your eyes with the moisture they need to operate as they should. It also keeps them feeling comfortable, preventing you from experiencing discomfort, irritation, loss of focus, and other problems.
Give Yourself Breaks
Whether you’re playing a video game with friends or diving into your work, giving yourself breaks is important. These give your eyes (and the rest of your body) the time they need to rest, recover, and prepare themselves for more screen time.
Try to give your eyes a 20-second break every 20 minutes. If you can, look at something that’s around 20 feet away.
Besides doing that, make sure to get up and walk around every hour or so. Grab a glass of water, a snack if necessary, and get your blood flowing. You’ll notice a huge difference in the comfort of your eyes and the rest of your body by doing that!
Ensure Your Prescription Is Correct
You can give your eyes all the breaks they need, but if what you’re staring at appears blurry, the problem might be your eyes. Make sure to visit the eye doctor to check up on your prescription.
Contacts or a pair of glasses can help your eyes stay comfortable not only when you’re looking at a computer, but throughout the rest of the day as well. You also get to enjoy clear, non-blurry vision!
Many prescription glasses also block out blue light. This can greatly improve your comfort levels while working or playing at a computer.
Block Out Blue Light
As mentioned above, blocking out blue light is a step everyone should try and take. Excess amounts of blue light can lead to headaches, eye strain, and other problems. It can even make it more difficult to fall asleep.
If you don’t have a set of regular glasses, look into buying a special pair of blue light glasses. These won’t impact your vision in any way, but they will prevent blue light from reaching your eyes.
You can buy blue light glasses on sites like Amazon for a little as $20. Just make sure the pair you buy actually does what it’s supposed to!
Reduce Eye Strain and Prioritize Your Health
Whether you’re now working at home and staring at the computer all day or just enjoy playing video games late into the night, giving your eyes a break is a must. Staring at screens for too long can lead to eye strain, which can cause everything from headaches to blurred vision.
If you’re wondering how to relieve eye strain, following this guide should help you out. Remember to listen to your body—if you start to notice your eyes hurting, get up and give yourself a break!
Are you looking to learn more about eye strain relief and other health-related topics? If so, check out the rest of our site for more great content.
