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Staring at Facebook day after day, editing photos in photoshop hour after hour…
Our human eyes weren’t made for this kinda of thing. We weren’t made to stare up close at the same thing for hours and hours. As a photographer it seems like if we’re not looking through the lens then we’re looking at the computer. Sure, an easy solution to this would be better time management so we spend less time in front of the computer and more time out shooting and enjoying ourselves. However, it’s not always that easy and even if we manage our time well we can still end up in front of the computer for long hours.
Our muscles around our eyes are trained to be watching for danger, looking for food and taking care of our young. This means that our eyes are supposed to always be moving and looking around us. Looking at one thing for an extended amount of time isn’t what we were meant to do. When you stare a your computer you actually blink less, and are focusing more so your eyes may get more irritated or tired quickly.
1. Take a few moments every half hour or so to look at the objects around your office, desk or wherever you work. If you work close to a window or have family photos on your desk you are more likely to look away occasionally, which is better for your eyes.
2. Use eyedrops to keep your eyes wet. Blinking less often means your eyes can dry out and become irritated from being dry. Eyedrops are my go-to when I have long days in front of the screen.
3. Take some time every hour to blink. Do 5 to 10 slow blinks. These will moisten and “reset” your eyes.
While we can’t avoid the computer screen completely in this field of work, we can do little things to make it easier on our eyes. Most importantly, if you’re in front of the computer too much – find a way to maximize your time usage and get away from the screens!
Tomorrow the 31 Days to a Better Photography Business Online Workshop will be starting! Are you >registered<?
