WSA: Rest Your Eyes

I am sitting in my office this morning at the Evil Day Job, in the relative dark, wearing sunglasses.

Why?

Because for some reason my eyes hurt like a sonofabitch this morning.  In a, can’t look in any direction but straight ahead and can’t look at bright light without feeling like a thousand ice picks are stabbing me in the eyes.  It literally feels like my eyeballs have been sprained.  Doing what, I have NO IDEA, but being that the dark and sunglasses are helping somewhat, I’m guessing eye strain.

Which brings me to a PSA for writers:

REST YOUR EYES.

In today’s society we already spend an inordinate amount of time looking at screens of stuff: computers, tvs, smartphone, ipads, etc.  If you’re me, you do that for approximately 95% of your waking hours.  You know, except while you’re in the shower or cooking.  Because, if you’re me, you’re writing during breakfast and lunch and eating at the computer, at the evil day job from 8-5, and writing after work until your spouse gets home, and pretty much watching TV until bed.

So I’m here to remind you to TAKE A BREAK!  Get up and walk around.  Interact with a live human or pet.  Do something that does not involve a screen.  And if you’re one of the lucky ones with such time, TAKE A NAP.  Because while we could technically still write without our eyes, it would be really dang hard, so it’s best to take care of the ones you have.

8 thoughts on “WSA: Rest Your Eyes

  1. Kait, this is such a great post! I spend so much time in front of a screen at work and at home. I even do crossword puzzles on my Droid WHILE I’m watching TV. This can’t be good for our eyes. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.

    If your problem persists, please see a doctor. I would hate for you to have something more serious going on, and not get medical attention.

    1. Oh yeah, I’m definitely NOT an avoid the doctor at all costs kind of person. I’ll give it a day or two (or the weekend, considering that tomorrow is Friday) and then we’ll see.

  2. So true. In grad school I had to read 5-6 books a week. At one point my eyes were so bloodshot and sore I could barely stand it.

  3. Your symptoms sound like a visual migraine. I get one every once in a while when I have been reading too much or working on the computer too long. If that is what you have, you are doing exactly what my doctor suggested: sunglasses and dark. Also, he says no florescent lights when I’m having one.

    Just my experience; yours might be different. Only your doctor would know for sure.

  4. Try the 30:30:30 rule (when your eyes are better)
    Every 30 minutes, tale 30 seconds to look at something 30 meters away. And try not to do it just by turning your head away from the screen, ‘cos its easy to cheat.

    I get so absorbed in writing that hours would go by without me moving anything other than my hands and fingers. I ended up buying myself a kitchen timer that I set for 30 minutes when I sit down. I remember to use it about 85% of the time, which is a helluva lot better than not at all!

    I do hope it’s only eye strain.

  5. I concur. Migraines. Weren’t you having this problem not too long ago? You may need somethinga bit stronger than your average OTC medication…sorry for your pain.

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