Have your eyes ever felt achy and tired after a long day of staring at your monitor or binge-watching your favorite movies or TV series all day? Eye strain is a common side effect of spending long periods looking at computer screens and mobile devices. You may notice that your vision blurs, that your eyes sting, or even tear up.
It’s high time to give your work desk an upgrade (other than switching to a seamless and reliable WiFi connection, of course!). Whether it’s following medical advice or investing in tools to minimize monitor eye strain, here are some hacks you can try out today.
Adopt the 20-20-20 method.
The 20-20-20 rule is simple: Take a 20-second break every 20 minutes and gaze at something 20 feet away.
According to research, it takes about 20 seconds for our eyes to relax completely. While you’re at it, standing up or grabbing a drink of water would be a good way to get you moving or keep yourself hydrated.
You can set an alarm every 20 minutes to get you started or download an app that can specifically facilitate this for you.
As for objects 20 feet away, the key is to look at something far away from you—like a tree outside your window, or a building from a distance. If you don’t have a window, try taking a quick walk outdoors.
Use an extra monitor light.
A monitor light bar illuminates darker parts of your screen while minimizing the glare from other lights in the room. This nifty tool helps you see what’s on your screen better, thanks to its asymmetrical light trajectory.
A screen bar is pretty much a more modern and ergonomic version of a desk lamp—and it saves space, too. All you need to do is attach the bar on top of your monitor, and you’re good to go.
We recommend the Mi Computer Monitor Light Bar by Xiaomi. This highly versatile tool allows you to adjust color temperatures and brightness based on your preferences. It also comes equipped with a High Ra95 coloring index, which shows objects in their fullest, most natural colors. What’s more, you can tweak its settings to give you softer, warmer light, minimizing the risk of eye strain especially on long work nights.
From Xiaomi Global Official Website
Upgrade your display.
If you’re due to replace your monitor and have the budget for it, why not invest in a curved screen?
A curved monitor isn’t just for the sake of aesthetics. This type of screen helps with digital eye strain by allowing your eyes to view most of the screen in one glance. In contrast, a conventional flat-screen monitor requires you to constantly shift your eyes across the screen, eventually resulting in tired eyes.
A curved screen also follows the human eye’s natural curvature and mimics how our eyes naturally absorb light. By doing this, any glare reflected off of the screen is less strenuous for your eyes.
The Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34” is a great example of ideal screen curvature. Its 1500R curvature design is specially manufactured to make every angle equidistant from your eyes, minimizing visual distortion. Its 21:9 aspect ratio also supports multitasking, letting you open multiple items at a time and work more efficiently. What’s more, it’s capable of filtering out blue light, effectively reducing eye strain.
From Xiaomi Global Official Website
Productivity need not come at the expense of your health. We hope these hacks help you be the best you can be at work—and keep yourself happy and healthy!