Ask HN: What hobbies do you have which help you rest your eyes?

11 points by taigi100 4 years ago | 13 comments

One of the issues I'm having with lowering the strain on my eyes, is finding activities that do so.

Most of my day contains activities that are done in front of a screen or which are hard on the eyes. The only activity I found that helps is taking a walk (but that's about 1h per day, still need 1-2 more hours of eye resting / time spent outside).

So, I come here asking, what do you do in your spare time, that's healthy for the eyes and other body parts :) ?

slmjkdbtl 4 years ago |

My hobby is lie down, close my eyes and think. I usually do this before getting up, planning my work, ideating about projects, composing music, or work on some philosophy. Shutting down senses that might be a distraction. I use my phone as a notebook in case I need to sketch or record some thoughts down. It's usually my most productive time of day, and definitely rests eyes.

taigi100 4 years ago | |

That might actually be a great idea! Thanks a bunch!

Do you have any suggestions on how to avoid falling asleep during this?

slmjkdbtl 4 years ago | | |

Sometimes up doing repetitive work is much more sleepy! I don't find it sleepy when your brain is actively functioning, but you can also try some traditional meditation posture

MarkM098 4 years ago |

After having bad outbreaks of Roscea and Blepharitis. I make more effort to catch up with friends, family and go to events. Also worth resting your eyes every 20 minutes and looking at something about 6 meters (20 feet away).

If you have a consistent pain or strain, I highly recommend going to an ophthalmologist and ask for exercises you have do.

bananicorn 4 years ago |

Skateboarding!

It's a bit hard to find time for it during a workday, but sometimes I just have the urge to get moving and trade lunch with my colleagues for some time on the board. A really nice change of pace, and I can usually think much better after getting some movement in, even if it's just some light cruising.

I'd still like to have another hobby which I can do during the winter, and maybe even while commuting. Maybe I should take up something like knitting, or any other craft which can be done during short downtimes.

brokenmachine 4 years ago |

Tennis is very good exercise for your eyes.

Focusing on a small ball that is coming from far away, all the way to you and back again, 100 times per game.

Lots of ball sports would be similar.

anon2020dot00 4 years ago |

I use blue-light glasses at night.

I also have an e-ink Android tablet and a Kindle so that I can do something that is not as eye-fatiguing.

Another tip that I picked-up from Hacker News, is to lower my monitor brightness to about 50 percent.

drost 4 years ago |

Jiu Jitsu! As you get better at it, you'll learn how to do certain things by feel, because if you use your eyes your "posture" will worsen -- giving your opponent an advantage

taigi100 4 years ago | |

As a MMA trainee myself, I fully agree. Love the sport (still thinking about ways to avoid injuries long term, tho). However, sadly, since the pandemic I don't feel comfortable going to trainings. I live in a country where there are no measures (at least none respected) so the risk of getting something in such an environment is high. Will go back when things settle down a bit tho :D

high_byte 4 years ago |

hmm I'm in front of screens way more than I'd like to admit and I rarely feel strain. perhaps your habits need to change? make sure the room light is stronger than the monitor backlight for example. I spends maybe few minutes each day just adjusting brightbess and contemplating how hardware manufacturers rarely take this into account & daydreaming about starting a TVs/monitors company revolving around the concept of perfectly-dynamic backlight.

approxim8ion 4 years ago |

Guided meditation is pretty good. There are apps like Headspace that help with that.

I also listen to a lot of podcasts, that is my wind-down ritual at the end of the day.

mikewarot 4 years ago |

Take up Photography, it's cheap, and fun.

JohnJamesRambo 4 years ago |

Gardening, jogging.