We are using our eyes now more than ever. Every day, we stare at small texts and images on computer screens, televisions and cell phones. Doing these for long periods of time without breaks in between can lead to eye fatigue and eye strain.

Simple eye exercises are essential in keeping your eyes strong and refreshed.

Don’t worry, these exercises don’t require you to put on your running shoes or break into a sweat. You can do easily do them from the comfort of your office chair, at home, or wherever you feel most comfortable.

Blinking

It may be pretty funny that blinking is on this list, but did you know that computer users actually tend to blink less, especially if they are intently focused on something on the screen? Whenever you blink, your eyes go into a brief period of darkness, which helps keep your eyes fresh and prevents dry eyes and irritation.

Turn your chair away from the computer for two minutes and just focus on blinking every 3 – 4 seconds. Blink slowly, as if you’re falling asleep. Do this at least once every 45 minutes to refresh your eyes.

Focusing

For this exercise, begin by sitting in a comfortable but upright position. Put your thumb about half an arm’s length away from your eyes. Focus on your thumb for 10 – 15 seconds, before switching your focus to something at least 3 metres away. Focus on the far away object for 10 – 15 seconds. Switch between focusing on your thumb and the far away object for 2 minutes. If you’re in the office, and feel self-conscious about using your thumb, you can focus on a pen on your table or any nearby object.

This exercise reduces the risk of eye fatigue as it helps relax the focusing muscle inside your eyes, especially after prolonged near work.

Rolling Your Eyes 

This exercise takes a bit of concentration. Sit in a comfortable, upright position and close your eyes. Start by looking up, and slowly moving your eyes in a clockwise direction. Do this 10 times, before changing the direction to anti-clockwise, doing 10 rounds as well. If this is difficult for you the first time, visualize a clock in front of you, and follow the numbers in a clockwise and anti-clockwise movement.

Rolling your eyes (not at an annoying colleague) is a great way to rest and refresh your eyes after a long day of staring at a screen.

Like any other muscle in the body, our eyes need regular exercise to keep them healthy. Add these simple eye exercises to your daily routine to strengthen your eyes and reduce eyestrain and eye fatigue.