The saying “everything in moderation” applies to pretty much everything. In the digital age, that includes device use. Multiple studies find that excess screen time can shorten your attention span and make it harder to retain information. That’s largely due to the blue light screens emit, which can overload your brain with stimuli and even make it harder for you to fall asleep at night.
Prolonged device use can also strain the eyes. Aside from blue light fatiguing them, all that time spent looking closely at screens can cause them to develop nearsightedness. This condition can make objects far away look blurry and can even go on to impact how well you do at school.
Given how excess screen time can affect your health and even your academic performance in more ways than one, we’ve previously recommended trying digital detoxes. By being more mindful and taking deliberate, temporary breaks from gadgets, you can make time for real-world experiences that both hone your mental skills and keep your eyes healthy.
However, it’s also true that device use is deeply embedded into how we accomplish schoolwork today—and, in many cases, it’s even required. That said, when you can’t do a digital detox, why not follow some tips and tricks to help you more mindfully use technology as you study?
Mindful technology use starts with how you set up and use your devices when you study. For one, you’ll want to make sure your screen is resting at eye level—use a laptop stand or monitor arm to raise it if that’s not the case. You’ll then need to consider how well-lit your workspace is. If you’re using an overhead light, position yourself in such a way that it doesn’t cast shadows on your devices. Meanwhile, desk lamps should use shades so their light doesn’t shine directly into your eyes. From here, make sure the brightness of your laptop or computer screen matches that of your surroundings. By taking these steps, your eyes won’t have to strain so hard just to see what’s on your screen.
Another great way to mindfully use devices is to protect your health as you do so. With blue light glasses, you can benefit from filters that block out harmful wavelengths of blue-violet light—the ones responsible for disrupting your sleep cycles—while letting healthier wavelengths of blue-turquoise light through to promote normal eye development.
Aside from these filters, glasses that use lenses like Eyebuydirect’s EBD Blue and SightRelax blue light glasses come with additional anti-glare coatings and subtle magnification powers. These can lessen the brightness of your screen while making it easier to see. Such features are specifically designed to minimize digital eye strain, even if you have to study for longer, so it’s worth looking into getting them.
If you want to use technology more mindfully, you also have to pay attention to how you feel the longer you spend looking at screens. One of the most common ways this will manifest is through discomfort caused by eye dryness. On average, we blink around 17 times a minute. However, when we use a tech device, this can go down to as low as four times a minute. So, if you’ve previously noticed your eyes felt gritty or irritated after long hours spent writing essays or cramming for exams, dryness was likely the culprit.
Fortunately, you can stay comfortable while studying by simply applying moisturizing eye drops. Like regular eye drops, these will hydrate your eyes to supplement your natural tears. As evidenced by the likes of Bruder Healthcare’s Eyeleve MGD, however, the moisturizing kind also locks that hydration in. That’s because they use something called “oil-in-water cationic emulsion technology.” This basically uses oil to keep moisture from evaporating, allowing you to comfortably view your screen and study for longer.
You can even incorporate mini digital detoxes into your study routine! Many eye care professionals tout the 20-20-20 rule as one of the best ways to prevent eye strain. Following it can take as little as 20 seconds—just look away from your screen every 20 minutes and look at something 20 feet away. However, you can also extend those breaks to a few minutes so you can stretch your legs, walk around the block, and even have a quick chat with a loved one—perfect for similarly giving your brain a break from all the stimuli from your device. Once you start studying again, you’ll be refreshed and ready to go.
