What do Bill Gates, Lady GaGa, and Oprah all have in common? Well, besides empires of wealth?
If you guessed daily routines, then you’re right! Each of those people is hugely successful in their respective fields. And the one thing they all have in common is a daily routine.
So what does routine have to do with your eye health? Well, having good daily habits can help to keep your eyes healthy and prevent diseases. Not only that, it will improve your overall health too!
Here are some ways you can build an easy daily eye health routine!
Healthy Eye Habits for Mornings
Mornings are so important because they set the tone for the rest of the day. Starting strong is what you need to start developing good morning habits for healthy eyes.
Sometimes part of shaping a routine actually means cutting out the things that are not good for us. In this case, it’s checking your phone first thing in the morning.
When you wake up, avoid checking your phone for the first hour of the day. Instead, listen to some music, read, write, meditate, or cook. Literally, do anything besides using any type of screen (that includes TVs and computers).
When you check your phone first thing in the morning, it will make your eyes more tired. You need to give your eyes some time to adjust to the natural light of the day. Once your eyes are awake and alert, then they will be better equipped to deal with the harsh lights of screens.
Another morning eye routine you can do is eat berries for breakfast. Berries are high in antioxidants that will keep the cells in your eyes healthy. Healthier cells mean a lowered risk of developing eye diseases. Your eyes will be stronger and heal quicker from infections and injuries.
During the Work Day
There are several habits you can get into to better your eyes during the day while at work. The last thing you need at work is the added stress of taking care of your eyes. Luckily, good workday habits for healthy eyes are simple and won’t take up too much brainpower.
First, get into the habit of adjusting your computer screen at work. Check to make sure that the brightness is at a comfortable level for your eyes and that the screen is slightly below eye level. This will reduce your risk of dry eyes.
You should also take a break from looking at your screen every 10 minutes. Every 10 minutes, look at something 10 feet away for 10 seconds. The 10-10-10 rule will save your eyes from some serious fatigue and from causing headaches.
After Work/Early Evening
You get home after a long day of work and you want to relax. That’s understandable! Why not relax and benefit your eyes at the same time?
Go for a short walk after work at least three times a week. Walking is relaxing and will help you unwind after a long day and is healthier than plopping down in front of the television for six hours.
Regular light exercise such as walking will help to reduce pressure in the eyes. This will work to prevent glaucoma in those who are at risk of developing it. Regular walks can also benefit glaucoma patients and may reduce some symptoms.
If you have glaucoma already, stick to light cardio like walking. However, if you don’t glaucoma, you can up your cardio to a moderate to high pace. However, if your exercise begins to affect your vision, stop immediately. High-intensity exercise can somethings heighten the intraocular pressure.
Before Bed Habits for Healthy Eyes
Your day is coming to a close and you’re ready to hit the hay. Before throwing yourself into your fluffy pillows and billowy blanket, take the time to let your eyes decompress.
An eye massage before bed will increase circulation in and around the eyes. This will help your eyes to defocus and relax. This is crucial to avoid developing nearsightedness or myopia.
Your eyes can become too used to work that is close to the eye such are working on a computer. When this happens, your eyes may have trouble seeing things in the distance. They will also take longer to adjust to looking at things close to the eye to far away.
Another thing that should be done every night before bed is to take your makeup off. Ladies, if you are sleeping with your makeup on, you are creating a breeding ground for bacteria!
Eye makeup is especially dangerous because the eye is moist, making it more susceptible to breeding bacteria. Sleeping with your eye makeup on can cause eye infections such as pink eye (conjunctivitis).
As an added note to that, you should replace your eye makeup every three months. Brushes should also be washed every month. Bacteria spread easily around the eyes. Keeping your makeup fresh and brushes clean will reduce your risk of infection.
Much like makeup, you should also remove your contact lenses at night before bed. Sleeping with your contact lenses in can also lead to infection. However, they more commonly cause dry eyes.
Waking up with dry eyes can be very uncomfortable. Sometimes you may even have difficulty opening your eyelids in the morning. Extreme dry eye and the continuous wearing of contact lenses may also lead to scratches on the cornea.
Corneal scratches, although they heal quickly, can become infected and cause permanent vision damage. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful of your contact use.
Taking care of your eyes doesn’t have to be complicated. You can easily incorporate positive and healthy habits into your day. Not only will they benefit your eyes, but your overall health as well!
This post originally appeared on Rebuild Your Vision.