8 Exercises All People With Tired Eyes Need to Do
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Digital eye strain is a major problem of the 21st century. Statistics say that 50 percent to 90 percent of those who use computers suffer from what is known as ‘computer vision syndrome’ (1). This syndrome is characterized by eye strain, blurry vision, double vision, and irritated and dry eyes.
Tired eyes can make it very hard for you to regain focus and get back to working on your super bright computer screen! No need to panic though. Terms like ‘digital eye strain’ and ‘computer vision syndrome’ might sound complicated, but in actuality, they aren’t.
Giving your tired eyes a short break by doing eye exercises can relax your peepers and reduce strain considerably. All of these exercises are super simple and can be done anywhere. Here are 8 of them you can try if you have tired eyes-
1. Focus Near And Far
Sit or stand straight and put your thumb (right or left, the choice is yours) directly in the line of your vision. At the start of the exercise, your thumb should be about 10 inches away from your face. By holding your thumb this way, concentrate on it for nearly 10 to 15 seconds. Then direct your gaze to an object that is10-20 feet away from you. Stare at it for 10-15 seconds. Next, direct your focus to something that’s really far from you and look at it for 10-15 seconds.
2. Move Your Eyes Side To Side
Similar to the previous exercise, for this exercise too, keep your back straight. You could stand or sit, that’s up to you. Once you’re in the right position, focus your gaze to your left without moving your head. Look at the object that falls in your gaze for a couple of seconds. Now, look to your right and repeat the same motion. Do this side to side movement 5 times on each side to complete a set. Do 3 sets.
3. Move Your Eyes Up And Down
The posture you need to do this exercise remains the same as mentioned above. In fact, the motion of this exercise is also quite similar to exercise number 2 on this list. You simply have to look up first and stare at what you see and then look down, while doing the same thing. You should look and up and down 5 times to complete one set. You should do 3 sets in total.
4. Move Your Eyes Diagonally
For this exercise, you need to either stand or sit straight and direct your gaze downwards to your left. Now, move your eyeballs in a diagonal fashion so they look up and towards the right. Stare at the object that comes in your line of vision. Next switch directions, gazing down and towards your right and then up towards your left. You should cover each direction 5 times to complete one set. A total of 3 sets will do.
5. Move Your Eyes In A Circular Fashion
As you get into an upright position, roll your eyeballs slowly. Make sure the direction you follow is clockwise. Complete 5 rounds of this particular movement. Once done with the first 5 rounds, change the direction in which your eyeballs move to counterclockwise. Again, complete 5 rounds. This completes one single set. You will have to do 3 sets in all to relax your tired eyes.
6. Blink
The easiest way to exercise your tired eyes so they can achieve a state of relaxation is to blink. However, you can’t just blink in any random way. Rapid movements just won’t do as they can tire your eyes further. You should blink at a relatively slow pace 10-15 times every single minute for 2 minutes. This should help in giving your eyes some much-needed rest.
7. Put Your Palm On Your Eyes
If you want to soothe your eyes, this exercise will serve you best! Sit in a dark room and put your elbows on the table in front of you. Now warm your palms by rubbing them against each other. Once they’re warmed up, close your eyes and put the warm palms on your eyes. Soak in the blackness that surrounds you and take deep breaths. Repeat for 5 minutes.
8. Do The 20/20/20 Exercise
The 20/20/20 is a well-known strained eye soother. While working on your computer, take a 20-second break every 20 minutes to stare at an object that’s 20 feet away from you. This exercise will ensure your eyes get some rest and don’t look bloodshot at the end of each workday.
Just like every other organ in your body, your eyes are no less important. They allow you to see the world in all its glory and all its colors. In fact, if you come to think of it, you don’t really do anything without seeing it, don’t you? So, take good care of your eyes and give them the break they need with the help of these amazing exercises.
