***keep_mailing*** Working on your computer in a healthy way

 

 

Follow some basic tips to work in a better way on your computer.

• Do not work in total darkness where the computer screen is the only source of light, especially if you have to type or copy from a printed document.
• Ensure that the keyboard and the document you are typing from are adequately lit up. The keys and letters should be visible and they should appear in focus when you look at them. If you are looking at a sheet of paper while typing, keep a paper holder adjacent to the monitor and ensure the letters are visible. Contrast also affects visibility. Black letters on a white background are the easiest to read as opposed to light lettering on a dark background.
• Set the contrast correctly for your monitor, too. Outrageous colours such as red letters on a gray background are painful to even stare at. Set your desktop screen to a subtle colour and avoid pictures and graphics with fluorescent colours.
• Make sure the light you use does not cause a glare on the screen. Continuously staring at a monitor with a glare on it can cause a lot of stress to your eyes. Also, ensure that there are no harsh shadows falling on a part of your screen. Adjust your monitor brightness to a level where you can look at it comfortably and see letters on it without straining your eyes.
• If you have a CRT monitor (the fat ones that look like television sets), use a flicker filter because these screens flicker a lot. Since your pupils are really wide open while working in the dark or staring very hard at the screen, the constant flicker makes things worse.
• Mind your position if you are sitting in your room and working the night away. It is very tempting to recline and work with the laptop on your lap, but that is a bad ergonomic choice. After a while, you will realise that your back is hurting. Use a bedside table where you can keep your monitor at eye level and use a lamp to illuminate the keyboard.
• More importantly, take frequent breaks. Practice a focus pull: focus on an object close to you and then move your gaze to an object at a greater distance. Scanning across the various objects in the room also helps. Blink very frequently and use artificial tears if your eyes feel very dry. A few head rolls, too, will help keep the neck free of pain.
• Remember, taking frequent breaks and exercising your eyes is not unique to working in the dark. Try and practice these even during the day if you have to work for long periods continuously

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