As a blogger—whether new to it or experienced—you’re likely spending hours in front of a screen.
Writing blog posts, fixing your page, or researching for new ideas requires you to stay glued to your device to ensure everything is perfect. However, this can take a toll on your well-being, and your eyes are especially vulnerable when you’re blogging. Excessive screen time can cause digital eye strain, including symptoms such as tired eyes, dryness, eye irritation, headaches, or blurry vision. Around seven in ten adults in the United States often struggle with these problems due to prolonged screen time, and four in ten report experiencing them multiple times a week. Digital eye strain can feel frustrating to deal with, especially if it gets in the way of your blogging.
Fortunately, you can easily combat it with the right measures. Here’s how you can care for your eyes as a blogger:
Take breaks
It’s easy to get carried away when working on your blog, but going too long without a break can lead to eye strain and dryness. Your eyes are focused on a near object—your screen—and you tend to blink less frequently while using your computer or tablet. Taking regular breaks is the best thing you can do to bring relief. You can follow the 20-20-20 rule, which involves looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. You can set an alarm to remind you to look away from the screen. You can also take time to blink, allowing you to keep your eyes hydrated with tears. You can also take longer breaks, such as a five-minute one every 30 minutes, or give yourself time for a quick nap if possible. If you’re taking breaks but still struggle with digital eye strain symptoms or feeling fatigued in general, you can step away from the blog to give yourself and your eyes an extended rest. Doing so can also help relieve blogger burnout so you can come back feeling refreshed physically and mentally.
Wear blue light glasses
If breaks are hard to come by while blogging, other measures can help you stay comfortable while looking at your screen. Blue light glasses can help shield your eyes from high-energy visible blue light, which can contribute to eye strain or damage over a cumulative period. They can also help prevent fatigue associated with blue light from your screen and may help your eyes feel less tired. If you’re worried about feeling self-conscious while wearing glasses, you can easily find a pair of stylish blue light glasses that suit your style. The Coexist and Altitude frames from Eyebuydirect showcase how chic and sophisticated these glasses can look, allowing you to look as good as your eyes feel. You can also customize them further to add anti-scratch or anti-glare coatings or even make the lenses photochromic to adjust to various light conditions, which can help if you like to blog outdoors. Keep these glasses next to your workstation to pop them on when you blog or consider switching your regular prescription glasses for ones with blue-light filters.
Use eye drops
As mentioned, dryness is a common symptom of digital eye strain since you tend to blink less frequently. If you’ve been working on your blog for quite some time and are starting to experience dryness, blinking can help restore moisture. However, if you still feel some discomfort, you can use eye drops to keep your eyes hydrated and comfortable. Eye drops can help provide relief from dryness and strain, allowing you to work comfortably without irritation. Systane eye drops are renowned for their effectiveness and can help address various types of dry eye. The Systane Complete Preservative-Free Lubricant Eye Drops can help manage dry eye for up to eight hours, even if your eyes are sensitive. You can easily get back to blogging without fussing over your dry or irritated eyes.