THE 20 / 20 / 20 RULE

Both Hayley and I spend a lot of time looking at screens. Computer screens, iPhone screens, iPad screens, studio display screens… The list goes on. If, like most of us these days, you also spend a lot of time doing this, we have a nifty little idea that will, not only help to save your peepers but will also help to relieve the screen burn in your head. That foggy blur that leaves you feeling devoid of ideas and creativity after just a few hours work and has you sprinting towards a coffee machine a little too often.

So, today’s post is to share with you a little rule of thumb you may or may not have heard of that goes a little something like this:

Every 20 minutes get up, or look up, from your screen and stare at something more than 20 feet away, for 20 seconds or more. 

This idea first popped up in the UK media a few years ago and I’ve actually been using it for more like 7 or 8 years. It works a treat for me and seems to help my focus and concentration once you get used to the regular breaks.

/// Edited to add… Hayley here! I have actually been trying this little method all week and have been finding it super useful as someone that suffers quite badly with light sensitivity, if I don’t take regular mini breaks from staring at a screen, I get a headache and am then rendered completely useless!  I have literally been getting up, walking to the window, staring down the street and just generally moving my eyes around to focus on things positioned at varying distances, counting to 20 seconds (Mississippi-ly, of course!), then sitting back down and resuming work!

Try it and let us know what you think.

Your optician will very much approve!