Quick and Easy Eye Relaxation Exercises

Let’s face it: life is full of stress. From work to family life to global events, daily life certainly takes its toll on our nervous systems. And, stress isn’t always bad, either! Sometimes we go through more stressful periods because of exciting life events, or because we are doing really worthwhile work at our jobs. Whatever the source, it’s important to take time away from our sources of stress and relax. The same is true for our eyes! Learning some eye relaxation exercises, in addition to overall relaxation strategies, is crucial for staying healthy.

Some of us turn on the TV when we get home to relax our minds. Others like to go for a long walk or read a book. All of these are great ways to let go of the day’s events, but some techniques take more of a toll on our vision than others. Think about it: if you stare at a screen at work all day, and then you come home and turn to a screen once again to unwind, are you giving your eyes the break they need?

Taking time to relax both your body and your eyes is essential for your well-being. Learning how to relax eye muscles can have a big impact on your visual health, too. Not only will you feel happier, but you’ll likely experience clearer eyesight! Talk about a no-hassle way to improve your vision!

Overstimulation: The Real Problem

A huge factor in why our vision feels so stressed these days is the fact that our eyes are constantly bombarded by visuals. We live in a highly visual society. Walk outside, and what do you see? Billboards, street signs, LED advertisement screens, skyscrapers with decorations and lights – every business is trying to get your attention.

As a result of this incessant marketing, our eyes are often suffering from overstimulation. This could explain why even when you have relaxing days, your eyes still feel tired and heavy. Even when you don’t realize it, your eyes are constantly being stimulated.

Even our relaxation time is often overstimulating to our eyes. How often do we turn to reality television or scrolling on social media to wind down? This added screen time can also lead to digital eye strain.

Unfortunately, there is no way around this abundance of visual stimulation. That is, of course, unless you want to seclude yourself far up in the mountains for the rest of your life. Nature is beautiful, but we bet you’d miss the indoor plumbing.

So, what else can you do? Creating a daily regimen to help your eyes relax is a great way to counter this over-stimulation. The best part about these relaxation techniques is that there is no wrong way to go about creating your own routine. It’s just one unconventional way you can improve your vision.

Creating Your Eye Relaxation Exercise Regimen

Unlike treating specific diseases through natural healing, relaxation is completely dependent on what relaxes you the most. Chances are, you can fold your new regimen into the activities you already do to take care of yourself. For example, if you’re a yoga person, there are even recent studies that show that yoga is an excellent activity when exploring how to relax eye muscles. There is no perfect combination of relaxation techniques. Find out which eye exercises work best for you, or just pick the ones that you like doing the most! These natural eye strain treatments will help you to feel more relaxed in no time.

As with most forms of exercise, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. As such, professionals recommend that you do not perform eye relaxation exercises for more than 10 minutes per day. Doing them for longer will actually have counterproductive results – it’s just too much of an eye workout. You could even strain the muscles that you are working so hard to relax!

So, now that we’ve discussed the “why” behind eye relaxation exercises, let’s get into the how. Here are three exercises to get you started in building your regimen.

1. Eyelid Relaxation Techniques and Visualization

Let’s start with an easy one. For this exercise, you need to be sitting down or not moving. This one shouldn’t be performed while driving, either, as it requires you to close your eyes.

First, make sure that your body is comfortable. Whether that means leaning back in your office chair, lying down on your sofa, or standing outside in the fresh air, find what is most relaxing and comforting for you.

Then, gently let your eyelids fall to about halfway down. You will most likely notice that your eyelashes are trembling. This is normal. This is like holding a squat position and feeling your thighs tremble. It is not a position that your muscles are used to, so it will probably feel a little weird.

Stop at the trembling point and try to get it to stop. This requires some patience. Take some deep breaths, and focus on controlling those muscles. Once the trembling stops, then slowly close your eyes the rest of the way. Let your eyes rest for a moment, but don’t let them get heavy. Let your eyes stay light as if they were up in the clouds. This is one of the most difficult sensations to achieve when learning how to rest your eyes.

Then, focus on the blood rushing to the back of the eye. Let yourself feel the warmth. Visualize a place that relaxes you. It could be a beach, the library, your childhood home, etc.

During your time visualizing, continue to breathe deeply. Breathe in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Do this for about a minute or so, or for as long as you feel that your eyes need it.

2. Two-Point Focus

For this eye exercise, you will need to find two points or objects that are about a foot and a half apart, vertically. You can draw points on a wall, or just pick two objects that are already about a foot and a half apart. Make sure that the objects are not on the same horizontal level.

First, look at the object or point that is placed higher. Focus on it for about 10 seconds. Then slowly shift your gaze down to the other object or point. It is very important that you do not dart your eyes back and forth. Really make sure to notice the space in between the objects as you shift your eyes.

Do this a few times over. You will feel your eyes getting heavier. Don’t fight this! Let your eyes close if they need to relax. You can even fall asleep, if that’s what your body needs!

3. Pressure Point Stimulation

For our last vision-enhancing relaxation technique, we will be using pressure points to stimulate circulation in the eye. This is one of the best ways to relieve tired eyes naturally, because one of the most relaxing pressure points in the body is the outside corner of your eye. Yes, for this one, you’ll be giving yourself an eye massage!

Lightly press your fingers to the outside corners of your eyes and massage them. Slowly move your fingers around the eye and on the eyelid. Massage them until you begin to feel relaxed but not sleepy.

Don’t be afraid to play around with your relaxation techniques. Everyone relaxes differently. To get the most out of your eye relaxation exercises, try out a lot of them, but pick four or five that work for you. Doing these eye exercises on a daily basis, along with incorporating the right vitamins, minerals, and herbs into your daily diet, can greatly improve your vision – naturally and safely.