Five tips to combat eye strain
- Ramakrishna Maguluri
- May 20, 2020
- 2 min read
Almost everyone complains how our screen times have rocketed in just few weeks. We are unable to stay away from screen or lower our screen time even when eyes are tired and definitely strained. Our addiction to our gadgets is made a norm after COVID-19 and lockdown forced us to stay indoors. Sometimes we just can’t avoid screens but there are few tips to keep your eyes healthy.
Rest your Eyes: Schedule small breaks while spending time on screen. Close your eyes, rest them for few seconds. Not sure if you have observed, with every thought, eye balls moves. So just keep your thoughts calm and completely rest your eyes. You can even use some cool, damp towel or cucumbers to block light and soothe eyes.
Look at nature: Nature is soothing and relaxing to both body and eyes. Even if you can’t take a walk in nature, look at something natural, preferably green or blue, soothing colours. Just rest your eyes on nature, and savour this soothing feeling.
Exercise your Eyes: As you stare at screen, you are straining eyes to focus on what you see or read. So it is important to keep shifting focus of your eyes instead of staring straight ahead. You can do this exercise every few minutes. Focus on a distant object for 20 seconds. Shift focus to a near object for 20 seconds. This is one round, you can repeat it 3-4 times each time you give your eyes a break.
Another Exercise: When you sit in same posture for long time, you are looking at screen from same angle. Your eyes are fixed in that position too. It strains your eyes plus it makes them dry. So it is important to shift your posture and position of eyes every few minutes. You can close your eyes and roll them keeping them closed, from left to right, and right to left. Do it once every 20 minutes.
Both the exercises strengthen eye muscles. But take care to do it gently, it’s not like muscle building but relaxing.
Finally, create motivation to wean off screens: All of us know high screen time is damaging but weaning off bad habits is no easy task. You can use multi-sensory stimuli to create this motivation. Make a list of things you enjoy smelling or touching. Instead of looking at cinnamon roll recipes or videos, remind yourself of the smell of them cooking. It gives you motivation to leave mobile and get into kitchen to make them.