Downtime For My Eyes
January 10, 2016 4:39 PM Subscribe
I stare at a computer screen eight hours a day for work. Eyestrain is a real problem. Most of my after-work activities don't give my eyes much downtime. What can I do to relax or entertain myself that will go easy on my eyes?
Some of the things I do now that exacerbate my eyestrain:
• jigsaw puzzles
• video games
• reading (both paper and digital books)
• television
Some of the things I do now that exacerbate my eyestrain:
• jigsaw puzzles
• video games
• reading (both paper and digital books)
• television
Try installing f.lux on all your screens; this could help make eye strain during work better.
Second getting outdoors.
posted by Drosera at 5:03 PM on January 10, 2016 [8 favorites]
Second getting outdoors.
posted by Drosera at 5:03 PM on January 10, 2016 [8 favorites]
Meditation, walking meditation, and audiobooks. Also, try to look at something very green and far away every 5-10 minutes while you are at work (if you are near a window.) In addition to f.lux, I also install Time Out (Mac OS X) so I can take micro-breaks, and it's caused an incredible reduction in eyestrain for me.
posted by yueliang at 5:16 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yueliang at 5:16 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
It is good for your eyes to focus into the far distance every day, so if you can time it, taking a walk at sunset is great. During the day when you feel eyestrain, take a break somewhere with a view, or at least somewhere you can focus on the horizon. The beach is awesome for this, if you are lucky to live near one.
At home, think about your other senses.
You can listen to music. I like to listen to whole albums because there is often an emotional narrative or some other structure the musician has carefully created that is lost when you just stick everything on shuffle. It helps me devote more attention to the music and lowers the likelihood that I will start doing something with my eyes. Audiobooks are good, too. Remember, your local library probably has tons of great audiobooks that you can borrow for free.
Low-impact exercise can be great for resting your eyes, once you become comfortable with the movements you should be aiming for. A familiar yoga routine or series of stretches, lighter free weights, things like crunches and squats - all these can be done with your eyes closed or unfocused. If you have some equipment like a stationary cycle or a treadmill or something, even easier. You can combine this with music or audiobooks if you like.
A lot of self-care stuff can be done while keeping your eyes relaxed. Any kind of skincare routine can be done like this, as long as your containers and bottles of things are different enough in size and shape. There's nail care, too, although that can be hard on the eyes if you are painting them. Filing and buffing nails and doing cuticle maintenance, however, can all be done by feel.
Try not to read or watch tv when you eat dinner. If you need entertainment, put on some music, but also think about how you feel about what you are eating. If it's not interesting enough to hold your attention on taste and smell, maybe you could look into making your meals more compelling. The different distances and lighting that happen when you are cooking is a good way to pull yourself out of that computer-screen-distance freeze.
posted by Mizu at 5:31 PM on January 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
At home, think about your other senses.
You can listen to music. I like to listen to whole albums because there is often an emotional narrative or some other structure the musician has carefully created that is lost when you just stick everything on shuffle. It helps me devote more attention to the music and lowers the likelihood that I will start doing something with my eyes. Audiobooks are good, too. Remember, your local library probably has tons of great audiobooks that you can borrow for free.
Low-impact exercise can be great for resting your eyes, once you become comfortable with the movements you should be aiming for. A familiar yoga routine or series of stretches, lighter free weights, things like crunches and squats - all these can be done with your eyes closed or unfocused. If you have some equipment like a stationary cycle or a treadmill or something, even easier. You can combine this with music or audiobooks if you like.
A lot of self-care stuff can be done while keeping your eyes relaxed. Any kind of skincare routine can be done like this, as long as your containers and bottles of things are different enough in size and shape. There's nail care, too, although that can be hard on the eyes if you are painting them. Filing and buffing nails and doing cuticle maintenance, however, can all be done by feel.
Try not to read or watch tv when you eat dinner. If you need entertainment, put on some music, but also think about how you feel about what you are eating. If it's not interesting enough to hold your attention on taste and smell, maybe you could look into making your meals more compelling. The different distances and lighting that happen when you are cooking is a good way to pull yourself out of that computer-screen-distance freeze.
posted by Mizu at 5:31 PM on January 10, 2016 [4 favorites]
I listen to my podcasts sometimes when my eyes are really tired.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 5:36 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 5:36 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I agree with concentrating on music and listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and I'd recommend doing it in a dark room with your eyes open. I have frequent eye strain too -- like you, I stare at a screen all day, and my leisure time activities are very vision-centric, like reading. I find keeping my eyes open in the dark very relaxing for my eyes. If you can't be in a dark room, covering your eyes with your hands can work too for short amounts of time.
posted by chickenmagazine at 5:43 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by chickenmagazine at 5:43 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
I really like mynoise.net as well, they have wonderful soundscapes that you could close your eyes and enjoy with, and the sound engineer who runs it and records the sounds is so passionate about the user experience.
I also spend a lot of time listening to meditation and spa and instrumental study playlists on Pandora, Spotify, and 8tracks to de-compress, sometimes bossa nova is good.
posted by yueliang at 6:21 PM on January 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
I also spend a lot of time listening to meditation and spa and instrumental study playlists on Pandora, Spotify, and 8tracks to de-compress, sometimes bossa nova is good.
posted by yueliang at 6:21 PM on January 10, 2016 [5 favorites]
I love podcasts and audiobooks but I can't sit still and listen or I fall asleep. If this is an issue for you as well, listen while doing housework or exercising. As chickenmagazine mentioned above, darkness is really good for resting your eyes. And now I'm thinking that it might be very pleasant to listen to a podcast while peddling on an exercise bike in a dark room.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:37 PM on January 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 6:37 PM on January 10, 2016 [3 favorites]
Take a walk. It's healthy all around and your eyes will naturally focus in the far distance.
posted by mark7570 at 6:39 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mark7570 at 6:39 PM on January 10, 2016 [1 favorite]
Take your cute wife and/or your cute kids and go outside with them. Walk and talk. So lovely.
posted by amtho at 6:44 PM on January 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 6:44 PM on January 10, 2016 [2 favorites]
In Chinese elementary schools, all the kids are required to do eye exercises everyday. It only takes few minutes, so you can do them throughout the day. I don't know about the actual efficacy of the exercises, but your eyes do feel relaxed and a bit refreshed afterwards.
posted by monologish at 9:15 AM on January 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by monologish at 9:15 AM on January 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
@monologish - thanks for linking them! I can't believe I forgot to mention that, the Chinese eye exercises absolutely work well. I've been able to delay my astigmatism progressing past the starting phase for years due to those exercises, looking at far away places, and making sure to take breaks. And I'm on the computer 10+ hours a day.
posted by yueliang at 1:39 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yueliang at 1:39 PM on January 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Learn to play an instrument. Certain (7-hole) flutes are inexpensive, and you may take them on at any level of sophistication you choose. Ukuleles are fairly easy to play, not necessarily expensive, and you can learn basic chords in a short time, simple songs at your own speed. You may tap a talent you didn't know you had. If you don't mind being a little more noisy you can try a harmonica or banjo. It's not necessary to take on music theory and so on to enjoy music on your own terms, especially if you want to take some time to yourself. This isn't to say that you can't look for a musical partner. Anyhow, music is flexible that way.
posted by mule98J at 9:00 AM on January 12, 2016
posted by mule98J at 9:00 AM on January 12, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
Cook good food.
Arts and crafts.
Gardening.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:44 PM on January 10, 2016 [2 favorites]