Keep your outlook bright, 8 easy ways to protect your vision
April is here - bringing with it warmer nights, more hours of daylight, and a fresh outlook on the remainder of the year. April is also Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month and here at Fitstyle by Shana, we want to help keep your whole day fitstylish by following these simple tips to beat digital eye strain and protect your eye health while you work.
What is digital eye strain or CVS?
Digital eye strain - also known as Computer Vision Syndrome - describes a group of eye and vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, and cell phone use. The most common symptoms include blurred vision, headaches, dry eyes, eyestrain, and neck and shoulder pain.
Use this fitstylish routine to improve your eye health this month and beyond!
In the morning:
Keep ‘em hydrated - start the day by drinking 8 oz of water first thing in the morning. Drinking plenty of water will help properly hydrate your eyes to help reduce eye strain.
Wait to check your phone - avoid checking your phone within the first hour of waking up, give your eyes time to adjust to the natural light of the day. (And maybe you start with just not in the first 5-minutes!)
While working:
Sit at least an arms length away from your computer screen (about 20-28 inches) and make sure your monitor is about 15 to 20 degrees below eye height (about 4-5 inches).
Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes spent using a screen, look away at something that is 20 feet away from you for a total of 20 seconds. - Need a reminder? Try putting a post-it on your screen or set your phone or watch alarm.
Midday/ Lunch break:
Use the “do not disturb” function on your phone to put those apps to sleep while you eat or take your break.
Grab your shades and get outside or open the blinds. Natural light reduces the stress-inducing effects of fluorescent lighting.
Before bed:
Stop using any screen at least an hour before you go to bed. Screens emit blue light which inhibits our bodies natural production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, so unplug earlier. Our eyes need at least five hours of sleep to recover and function well.
Do non-screen tasks, open snail mail, file paperwork, read a printed book, or take a walk. Use the evening hours to unwind and enjoy that sans screen hobby like knitting, drawing or listening to music.
For more details on combating digital eye strain and protecting your eye health you can visit these articles:
Your FAQs Answered: Computer Eye Strain
Need a daily reminder to take a break? Become a Fitstyle Teal member to get daily motivation and tips to keep you fitstylish all year long.