It’s not new that staring at your screens for prolonged hours can have a bad impact on your eyes. Though it is not really possible for some people to stay away from them as it is their work, there are certain things they can do for reducing the bad impact. Here is a list of 5 apps to stay healthy while working on your mac.
Time Out
There is a popular rule out there you might have heard of; known as the 20-20-20 rule, it states that every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This is considered to be one of the handiest rules to release the stress on your eyes.
You can instruct the time after which you want the app to kick in and distract you from the screen. When the app kicks in, it changes the theme and changes the background color to dark after the specified time. You can also decide the apps in which you don’t want Time Out to interrupt you. This will probably include the apps you use for watching movies. Also if you are work needs continued focus, you can postpone a break.
Time Out is a handy little app for Mac that encourages the user to take short breaks after a specified time. You can use the 20-20-20 rule or set custom time. The app is available as a free version which is highly customizable. You can also donate to the developer and buy a paid version.
f.lux
The blue light emitted by a screen is the main culprit for damaging your eyes. It reaches deeper into the eye and causes damage to the retina. You can feel the tension in your muscles while experiencing headaches, eye fatigue, and sleep deprivation.
f.lux manages to keep the strain minimum by introducing a yellow tint to the screen. You can control the amount of tint you want. You can also add location according to which the app would change the colors of the screen. Initially, this may look weird, but with time your eyes will adjust to the color. This is definitely not recommended if you are editing photos or color grading videos. But otherwise, a perfect companion for your eyes.
The app also has an overkill “dark mode”. It is pretty aggressive and turns the screen in a black-and-red shade which is helpful if you work at night. The app is free and is available for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Nekoze
Nekoze is that handy app which can save you from those lower back pains due to back posture. If you have a desk job then it can be hard to stay straight all the while working on your pc. This app notifies you if you are slouching while you use your Mac or MacBook.
It is a menu-bar app for Mac and requires calibration. For calibration, the app uses iSight camera. It tells you to sit straight to calibrate your ideal posture. Once you are done, it monitors your posture continuously. You can set the frequency if you think the app is being too aggressive.
Yes, the camera may consume more battery if you are not plugged in. You should also be comfortable with the fact that you are being monitored all the time. If those are not your concerns, then this is the perfect posture friend for you.
Noizio
When focusing on work, audio disturbances can be a big nuisance. Be it a busy street or construction work going on nearby, Noizio is here for the rescue. This app features you an extensive list of relaxing sounds. Just plug in your earphones and transport to a world where you can listen to calm sounds while you focus on your work.
It offers numerous sounds like wind, rain, forest, sea waves, etc. The best part of this app is that you can mix and match various sounds. You can adjust the amount of each sound you want to hear in the mix. Noizio can greatly enhance your productivity while you work on your mac.
Tomato One
If you haven’t heard of Pomodoro technique then this would be the right time to learn about it. This technique encourages you to take breaks after every 25 minutes. Don’t underestimate the simplicity of the way this app works- it can surely add a lot to your productivity.
Tomato One is a simple Mac app that follows the Pomodoro principle. It notifies you to take 5 minutes break every 25 minutes. The entire cycle is called one Pomodoro. This can also be done using “time out” mentioned earlier in the list, but Tomato One shows your 2 weeks history to keep you motivated.
This is a must-have app to stay healthy and motivated on your Mac. The app is available for free but also includes ads. These ads can be removed via $1.99 in-app purchase.