Years ago, my job required me to read and write emails for the full 8 hours a day. When I went home in the evening I found my eyes were having trouble focusing, and my wrists also started aching.

Luckily my work now doesn’t require me to stare at the screen for hours on end. I’m also on the phone, taking notes, or searching for cables in the cabinet…

But I still do get the tired eyes, so I decided to fire up a piece of Mac software that I used all those years ago. It’s still great–does the job simply, no bells and whistles.

It’s called AntiRSI, and its sole purpose is to prevent Repetitive Strain Injury. And it’s free (although donations are always welcome). And yes, it’s for Mac only.

The Preferences panel allows you to set how often you want to take a break, and how long you want that break to be. So I’ve set mine for an 8-minute break every 52 minutes. Then it allows you to set “micro-pauses” which I’ve set as 15-second breaks every 15 minutes.

It also gives you the option to put a clock in the dock, showing how much time until your next break.

When break time rolls around, a dark window pops up on your screen. That’s when I go look out the window, walk around the office, use the bathroom, or just sit and close my eyes. And yes, I find my eyes are much less exhausted at 6 pm.