Perform simple eye exercises between sessions

A few gentle exercises can relieve tension in your eye-focusing muscles and provide a restorative break during long screen sessions.

Steps

1. Shift focus near and far: Hold a pen at arm's length. Slowly bring it toward your nose while keeping it in focus, then move it back out. Repeat 5 times.
2. Roll your eyes in circles: Slowly trace a wide circle clockwise, then counterclockwise. Repeat 2-3 times each direction.
3. Palm your eyes: Rub your hands together to warm them. Close your eyes and gently cup your palms over them without pressing on the eyeballs. Hold for 30-60 seconds while breathing deeply.
4. Time it with breaks: Perform these during your 20-20-20 breaks or whenever your eyes feel tired.

Why It Works

Prolonged near-focus keeps the ciliary muscles contracted. These exercises move your eyes through their full range of motion and alternate between near and far focus, helping those muscles relax.