Been straining too long at the screen or your phone and your temples starting to hurt? This is a feeling too familiar with all of us, especially when everyone and their kids own at least one mobile device. Of course, it is best not to continue staring at your screens for a long period of time but if you have no choice, take a break and try these exercises out to reset your eyes:

 

Focus Change

 

This exercise is to be done while you are seated.

 

1. Hold one finger just a few centimeters away from one eye.
2. Focus your eyes on the finger.
3. Move your finger slowly away from your face.
4. Shift your eyes away from your finger slowly and focus on an object farther away, and then back on your finger.
5. Bring your finger back closer to your eyes.
6. Once again, shift your eyes away from your fingers and focus on an object farther away.
7. Repeat 3 times.

 

Figure 8

 

Here is a slightly simpler exercise in only 3 steps.

 

1. Face an open area of floor and focus your eyes on it around 2.5 meters away.
2. Move your eyes in the shape of a figure 8.
3. Trace this imaginary figure 8 for 30 seconds, switch directions and repeat.
4. Repeat as many times as you like until your eyes feel more relaxed.

 

The 20-20-20 Rule

 

One of the simpler exercises you could do, the 20-20-20 rule is more of a mantra you’d have to follow rather than an exercise. The basis of the rule is that for every 20 minutes you stare at a screen, stare at something 20 feet (about 6 meters) away for 20 seconds. This will no doubt help ease your eye strain if you remember to do it every 20 minutes or so.

 

Eye Movements

 

This particular exercise is so simple you can do it with your eyes closed. No, I mean it.

 

1. Close your eyes.
2. Slowly move your eyes upward, then downward.
3. Repeat this three times.
4. Then slowly move your eyes to the left, and to the right.
5. Repeat three times.
6. Repeat the whole process again until your eyes feel more at ease.