A Day in the Life
As a Mechatronics engineer, my work often involves spending long hours in front of a computer screen crafting that perfect 3D CAD design, then testing with some random simulations. I’m pretty sure that the Software engineering community also relates to that, as we share a common norm with late night coffee injected debugging sessions. This lifestyle can take a toll on both our physical and mental health. As the only person who is not wearing spectacles in the family, my mother was a bit worried about my health when I was staring in front of the screen for the majority of my uni days.
When I asked my colleagues about this, they always suggested blue tinted glasses, which I always felt like a kind of wearable sort-of thing that was available back in the 2000’s where you hook up to the front of the huge bulky monitors (fig. 1). Yuck 🤢.
After dealing with headaches, eyestrain, and back pain myself, I felt like sooner or later I had to take action to improve my health. This is the time I just found out about the 20-20-20 rule. If you wanna deep dive into that rabbit hole, you can read more about it here
So how do we fix this? As a broke-ass uni student, here comes our savior, open-source software that can not only enhance our productivity but also help us maintain a healthy work-life balance without breaking the bank, actually without even touching your bank, literally. I will share two fantastic open-source applications, Workrave and f.lux which have become a part of my daily routine. I would love to see if they come pre-installed with Windows OS without that crappy McAfee bloatware they are porting with every new Windows installation
Workrave - The Ergonomic Expert
Workrave is the perfect tool for anyone spending significant hours at the computer. Its primary purpose is to encourage regular breaks (just like the 20-20-20 rule, but in a more advanced manner), which are crucial for maintaining our physical health and avoiding the perils of prolonged sitting and staring at the screen (fig. 2).
Workrave runs in the background and uses periodic alerts to remind you to take micro-breaks and rest your eyes. I like how customizable it is. You can adjust the frequency and duration of breaks and choose between different types of alerts. But I’d keep the options as they are because I believe the Devs have done their part by researching and selecting the right time frequency and stuff required for a healthier outcome. Am I right? (I hope they are not just random numbers 😳)
Anyway, Workrave is completely open-source and you can download it from the official Workrave website or contribute to the project via the following GitHub repo .
Just a friendly reminder, make sure to crank down the notification sound volume from the preferences. Go to your system tray → Workrave → Preferences → User interface ❶ → Sound ❷ → Volume ❸ (fig. 3). Otherwise, your colleagues will hate you for that loud, irritating noise for the rest of your uni days. Trust me. 😅
Shortcuts To Remember
One more thing, just remember this shortcut +. It will come in handy, as this will be helpful to close the pop-up notification.
Bonus feature
Ever wondered how far your mouse has traveled during your questionable debugging sessions? Go to your system tray → Workrave → Statistics (fig. 4)
f.lux - The Eye Care Expert
f.lux is another valuable open-source application that addresses a common issue among tech enthusiasts - exposure to the harsh blue light emitted by computer screens, especially during nighttime work sessions. I know that the modern Windows OS comes with a feature called “Night light”. But it is nowhere near what the f.lux is providing
F.lux is a freeware and can be downloaded via the official F.lux website . Make sure to restart the device once the download is finished. Don’t skip it! I’m talking to you. Yes, you! I know you are having second thoughts. But no, just restart it. You are using an SSD, dammit. 😏
Anyway, the moment you start this application you will feel like it’s kinda strange and a bit hard to work with the new “no-blue-light” conditions. You will get to use it eventually. It will take some time, as you are so used to the blue light, you will feel strange when there is no blue light to strain your eyes. But trust me, once your eyes get used to screens without blue light, you will love it forever (fig. 5).
The magic behind this is that during the day, it uses a typical brighter light from your screen. But in the evening, f.lux gradually shifts the light to be much warmer and gentler on your eyes reducing the blue color. Making it more natural and calm. By reducing your exposure to blue light during nighttime work sessions, f.lux not only protects your eyes but also helps improve your sleep quality. A good night’s sleep is essential for staying alert and productive during the day.
Quick settings to get it going
F.lux works by adjusting the light intensity based on your local time. So in order to make that happen, F.lux needs to be configured to your current timezone. Open f.lux and make sure to add your location correctly (fig. 6).
Shortcuts to remember
These will be helpful to stop f.lux if you are doing any color-critical work.
+ (toggle f.lux start/stop)
+ (further increase brightness)
+ (further decrease brightness)
Closing Thoughts
Maintaining a healthy work routine is crucial for tech professionals who spend extended hours in front of the computer. Always make sure to use dark themes as much as possible. Nowadays, almost all applications, web apps, and websites have a dedicated dark mode. Make sure to use that to make your life easier. Incorporating these techniques into your daily work routine can make a world of difference, ensuring that you remain healthy and productive. So, if you haven’t already, give Workrave and f.lux a try and experience the positive impact they can have on your work-life balance. Your body and mind will thank you for it. Give your thoughts about these techniques in the comments below. If you have any other techniques up your sleeve, make sure to share them with the community too.
References
- Alexander, I., (2022). Nobody wants you McAfee.. nobody. [Online] Available at: https://www.tiktok.com/@ianstech/video/7138988708849601834 [Accessed 10 11 2023].
- Johnson, S. & Rosenfield, M., (2023). 20-20-20 Rule: Are These Numbers Justified? Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry, 100(1), 52–56.
- Slant, , (2023). F-lux vs. Windows night light comparison. [Online] Available at: https://www.linux.com/training-tutorials/linux-101-introduction-sudo/ [Accessed 10 11 2023].