Hi everyone. I just wanted to check in and get your opinion / suggestions on my current habits. The post is a bit long but I would greatly appreciate inputs from people who are further along the journey than I am. You don’t have to reply to all questions but maybe to some that you find interesting! (I’m on my first normalized and just ordered a second one, should be able to start using them soon!)
I know there are articles, podcasts, and YouTube videos available and I’ve watched / listened to a lot (but not all) of them. I still have questions regarding the details of some of the habits… Maybe some of these questions are too specific, and maybe nobody knows the exact answer, but maybe based on your best guest, you’d like to provide some input anyway?
CURRENT LIST OF HABITS:
1. Using differentials and sit around 60cm away from the computer screen. ~5-10 hours per day
Question:
1A. would it somehow be even better if I could set up a projector around ~3m / 10ft away and use Normalized instead of using differentials + regular computer monitor? Is clearing up things that are further away (~3 m) more effective than clearing up things that are close up (60cm)? Or does it make no difference? Or will being in a darker room with a projector hurt more than help? Maybe this is a silly idea…
2. Taking 3-5 minutes breaks to look outside and active focus every 40-60 minutes, but not so consistently (I often forget / feel lazy to do this, especially later in the day).
For those using Windows computer, I recommend using LYZ Stopwatch & Timer to do countdowns if you want to reminders take breaks.
2A. How important is taking breaks? Someone mentioned in the discord server he doesn’t do the 20/20/20 rule and can still make good gains. But I spend probably 5-10 hours per day on the computer (at 60 cm away with differentials) for work and for entertainment.
2B. Should I work to reduce my computer time? or is using differentials enough to counter this as long as you get outdoor time as well?
2C. What is your daily screen time for PC / phone and are you still able to make gains with them?
3. Take 1 hour walks twice per day (or at least once), Try to clear up signs and pattern on street lamps.
- I find this pretty boring (despite Audio books / Podcasts, and my secondary goal to get leaner), but it seems necessary so I’ve been pretty consistent (except for a couple of weeks) with it. Unfortunately, I may need to stop doing this for a while as the Air Quality in my city has become extremely unhealthy (high PM2.5, AQI = 170)
3A. Is being outside alone enough of a stimulus or do you actually have to actively be looking at things and trying to clear them up? I have a feeling it’s the latter, but just wanted to double check… sometimes my mind wanders and I may not be actively looking / clearing up something far away. do these moments not count?
3B. If someone is working at a desk and has access to windows, does looking outside and doing active focus enough to replace these walks? This would maybe allow distance vision without the PM2.5 on bad days outside, and also sit in an air-conditioned room. lol
4. Watching TV 3.5 meters away and trying to clear the subtitles. ~1-2 hours per day. Can easily do more.
- I’ve moved my entertainment from computer monitors with differentials to the TV and this is a very easy habit to complete each day. I think it has been helpful.
4A. Does anyone have experience with this and confirm that it helps?
4B. If this was the main / only distance stimulus, would it be enough to make gains? What’s up with the obsession with being outdoors? lol … If this ticks the Blue Challenge Box and the no ciliary spasm box, then why is this not recommended?
4C. If not as the only stimulus, is it possible to do more of this and less outdoor walks? (you may notice I really don’t like the outdoor very much. lol maybe I need to move to a nicer city with good air quality and colder climate… )
5. Tennis on the weekends for 1.5 hour each session.
- This is actually quite fun (sometimes more fun than watching TV!) I imagine this is very helpful for my vision, and is much definitely more fun than the daily walks. I plan to do this more frequently but need to someone to play with who can actually tolerate my low levels of ability…
5A Do you think doing an indoor sport such as racquetball/squash would be just as helpful? Tennis is outdoor and the court is bigger, so I suspect it is sort of an “ideal” sport for vision improvement. But racquetball has a much lower learning curve and you can quickly get up to the level where you can play it, use it as cardio, and enjoy it much more.
6. Cycling every where most of the time instead of taking the car.
- this may not be a good idea during bouts of bad air quality.
6A. Do you have to be actively trying to clear things up while riding for this to “count” as good stimulus?
Other ideas to implement:
7. Move my work desk to my bedroom and add a bigger window (this would cost money, and unfortunately my bedroom is really hot during the day so it would also be energy inefficient to try to cool it all day.) ugh!
Hope this is not too much. I would appreciate if you have any input on any of the points!
I spent hours and hours everyday on the TV / computer and was never really enjoyed sports or being outdoor. As I got into my 20s, I diversified my activities and kind of “grew out of it.” The myopia part remained though! And like a lot of people these days, I still need to work on my phone addiction!