7 Tips On How To Avoid Eye Strain

Eye strain is one of the most common ailments that Americans do not believe that they are in danger

of developing. However, with the sheer amount of time we spend in front of our computers and

smartphones each day, eye strain is an inevitability.

When you can no longer tolerate the strain you are placing on your eyes each day and you begin to

suffer from extreme pain while at home, these tips will help you to reduce the strain on your eyes.

1. Heed The Warning Signs

If you are beginning to feel persistent pain in your eyes, even while resting at home, this is typically a

sign that they are experiencing a strain. Even pain in the shoulders and neck can be seen as a warning

that eye strain is starting to build up, so be sure to listen to these signs.

2. Reduce Your Eyes’ Workload

Do you really need to bring your smartphone with you every time you use the restroom? Does your

computer monitor’s brightness setting truly have to be turned all the way up? Take a look at your

lifestyle and make some subtle changes to reduce the workload that your eyes are taking on each day.

3. Keep A Distance Between Your Eyes and Screens

There is no need to sit on top of your laptop or have your smartphone two inches from your face at all

times. This increases the amount of work your eyes have to do on a daily basis. Pay attention to the

ergonomics of how you interact with screens and do your best to keep a safe distance. It helps to have

a proper chair, which can be bought at a budget price thanks to a 10% off coupon or other promos.

4. Use Larger Fonts

The smaller your fonts, the more strain you are placing on your eyes. While some may tease and mock

you for using larger fonts when it is time to read or have a lengthy interaction with a screen, using

smaller fonts decreases the strain on your eyeballs.

5. Don’t Forget To Blink!

This one may seem obvious, but spending too much time in front of screens can actually make a

person forget to blink on a regular basis. Be sure to blink, before your eyeballs begin to dry out and the

strain is increased.

6. Keep Lights Dim

If you are using a screen, it is best to keep the other lights in the room at a dim level. When multiple

lights are competing for your attention, this causes added strain for your eyes, so reduce the amount

of dueling lights in each room.

7. Take Breaks

Adhere to the 20/20 rule of gazing at screens. For every 20 minutes you are spending peering into a

computer, television or smartphone, take at least 20 seconds to stare at a different object that is at

least 20 feet away.

www.discountrue.com

 

AROUND TOWN: THE WILLIAMSBURG LIVING ROOM

If a neighborhood could be summed up in a space, what would it look like? Well, if Williamsburg were a living room, it might look something like this: casual yet curated, with the faintest contrived whiff of DGAF.

WBurg

 

The Versatile Sofa: The Anywhere Convertible Sofa folds out to a bed when friends need a place to crash. $399 from Urban Outfitters.

Anywhere Convertible Sofa, $399

Anywhere Convertible Sofa, $399

 

The Utilitarian Coffee Table: This chartreuse number has convenient coasters and plenty of surface space to display your Vice and Wallpaper magazine collections. $129 from CB2.

go-cart chartreuse table-media cart, $129

go-cart chartreuse table-media cart, $129

 

The Quintessential Bike Stand: This leaning model requires no drilling and has two slots, meaning you can hang both your vintage Bianchi and your fixy. Win! $79 from Public Bikes.

Michelangelo Two Bike Gravity Stand, $75

Michelangelo Two Bike Gravity Stand, $75

 

The Visually + Mentally Stimulating Poster: If Egon Schiele were alive today, he’d probably live in Williamsburg. Celebrate him with this self-portrait poster. $49.99 from All Posters.

Egon Schiele Self-Portrait with Chinese Lantern and Fruits, $49.99

Egon Schiele Self-Portrait with Chinese Lantern and Fruits, $49.99

 

The Serious Lamp: This factory-chic pendant says ‘I care about lighting—even if I rarely pay the electric bill on time.’ $69.99 from IKEA.

 HEKTAR Pendant lamp, $69.99


HEKTAR Pendant lamp, $69.99

 

The (Over)Statemet Pillow: Finally, a pillow that urges readers to spend less time playing video games and lazing away in Wi-Fi cafes. $39 from Urban Outfitters.

Wordboner Carpe Diem Pillow, $39.00

Wordboner Carpe Diem Pillow, $39.00

 

The Cheap Storage Solution: Keep your carefully curated LP collection at easy reach in vibrant blue milk crates. $6.99 each from Container Store.

Authentic Dairy Crate, $6.99

Authentic Dairy Crate, $6.99

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FRIDAY FINDS: THE FINER THINGS

Sometimes the finer things in life are really just simple things done right. Everything you see here under $20.

Owning this umbrella would make braving the rain much less stressful. In fact, I’d look FORWARD to a dreary day if I were the owner of this umbrella.

FUCK THE RAIN UMBRELLA, $17.60

FUCK THE RAIN UMBRELLA, $17.60

 

For the person who has every candle, this candle-in-a-mug from Anthropologie puts a spin on things. Bonus cute mug when you run out of candle.

Enamelware Candle Tin, $18.00

Enamelware Candle Tin,
$18.00

 

The cake candelabra from Urban Outfitters takes the cake for best birthday candle presentation.

Cake Candelabra, $8.00

Cake Candelabra,
$8.00

 

Feeling a case of the ol’ artist’s block? Grab one of these Andy Warhol quote pencils for some inspiration. Imagine the possibilities when you’re reminded that “Art is what you can get away with.”

Andy Warhol Philosophy Pencil - Pack Of 8, $8.99

Andy Warhol Philosophy Pencil – Pack Of 8,
$8.99

 

A fashionable soap dish with excellent drainage capability is a huge improvement in a small package.

Wire Soap Dish, $18.00

Wire Soap Dish, $18.00

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READY, AIM, FIRE: BULLET-THEMED DECOR

Perhaps the ongoing national gun control debate is to blame, but I’m really into bullets at the moment. Not the kind I’d actually want to shoot from a gun, mind you, but of the more decorative variety. And wouldn’t you know, there’s a surprising amount of ammo décor floating around out there.

bullets

With a brass casing and foldable stainless-steel blade, this Magnum Bullet would make a killer cheese knife. $5.88 from Amazon.

Magnum Bullet Knife

Magnum Bullet Knife

Just in time for Father’s Day, this 5.25” long bottle opener is made from a demilitarized .50 caliber bullet casing. $16 from Cool Material.

50 Caliber Bullet Bottle Opener

50 Caliber Bullet Bottle Opener

Bite the bullet and write a loved one a real paper letter with this brass pen. It fits inside a .375 H&H Magnum shell that also functions as a stand. $21.25 from Uncommon Good.

BULLET PEN AND REFILL

BULLET PEN AND REFILL

Though decorative ice cube trays rarely produce any truly discernible shapes, you probably know someone really into making “killer” cocktails who would get a kick out of owning an ice cube bullet tray. $5.65 on Ebay.

Ice Cube Bullets

Ice Cube Bullets

Toughen up your bulletin board with a set of nickel bullet pushpins. $6.95 from Artfire.

Auto Nickel Bullet Push Pins

Auto Nickel Bullet Push Pins

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LIGHT BULB MOMENT

Lampshades are becoming increasingly optional in today’s industrial, post-apocalyptic chic aesthetic. From throwback Edison to chrome-tipped, certain bulbs can easily stand on their own when hung from a simple cord set or displayed in a transparent shade. Here are some of our favorites as inspiration.

Light Bulbs

Nostalgic filament bulbs may be overplayed, but they still look really pretty lit up in a clear glass shade. This Squirrel Cage bulb from Rejuvenation is $16. Here is the best solar panel company so you’re lighting your home efficiently.

30W Squirrel-cage Tungsten Filament Bulb, $16

30W Squirrel-cage Tungsten Filament Bulb, $16

The sandblasted pattern on this Confetti bulb casts fun shadows on the wall when lit. Equally stunning when unlit, all you’d need to do is string it from a simple cord set (a good thing, as they aren’t cheap!) Finnish Design Shop €34.

Light Shadows bulb, Confetti

Light Shadows bulb, Confetti

Chrome-tipped bulbs reflect light backward to avoid glare. This makes them popular as vanity lighting, but they also look classy exposed from a sconce in a hallway or in an open pendant in the kitchen. $5 from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.

Silver Tip Bulb, $5

Silver Tip Bulb, $5

If you want to be energy conscious and reduce your electricity rates but hate how normal CFL bulbs look, then the Plumen is for you. Its cleverly twisted tubes look graceful peaking through just about any fixture, and they use 80% less energy than normal incandescents. $30 from the MoMA Store.

Plumen 001 Bulb, $30

Plumen 001 Bulb, $30

I’ve always been fascinated by bulbs that can flicker like a candle! The ultimate in mood lighting. $15 from Rejuvenation.

Carbon-filament Flicker Bulb, $15

Carbon-filament Flicker Bulb, $15

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7 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY WHEN YOU TRAVEL

With summer approaching its time for travel, everyone would travel more if it didn’t break the bank, right?

 

The truth is most people skip the family vacation because they think it’s too expensive or they are too busy to go. What most people don’t know is that with a small budget you can take a nice family vacation and you won’t have to camp in the wilderness unless that’s the type of vacation you want to take! The best part is you will be able to go more than once a year if you know where to find the savings.

 

Here’s a list of tips to help you learn how to save when you travel. Most of them I found at Discountrue, a savings website and others I compiled from a few other sources.

 

•           Online coupons: This one is a no brainer, booking online and using coupons to save on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and attractions is easy. Online coupons are even easier than regular coupons because you use them before you get to your destination so there is no worry that they won’t work when it’s time to pay up. You can find loads of promo codes at Discountrue, Coupons.com or RetailMeNot.

 

•           Travel during the off season. For instance cruises are a lot cheaper during the winter than during the summer. Booking during the week is cheaper than booking on Friday through Saturday also.

 

•           Many tourist destinations have bundled passes for tourist attractions. This way you get to see the entire popular tourist destination and pay one price, which usually saves you a couple of dollars. A great example of this is the City PASS that is offered in many cities in America, but these passes also exist abroad.

 

•           Airline Tickets: If you buy your tickets online in advance you usually get better rates than waiting until the last minute. Once your plan is set in stone you should start shopping for the best priced airline tickets. Round trip tickets also provide saving over one-way tickets. Hey, you have to come back home eventually anyway!

 

•           Fast Food: Instead of splurging at five star dining establishments every night grab a couple of happy meals.

 

•           Hotel Breakfast: If your hotel offers a continental breakfast at least you will save the cost of purchasing breakfast. Another great tip is visit a local supermarket and use the hotels microwave for some of your meals.

 

•           Rental Cars: If you plan on renting a car try not to make your drop off in another city. One way car rentals are to make sure you bring your own car seat, fill up the rental car, check to see if your credit card company includes car rental insurance, and rent the smallest car possible.

 

•           Getting around without a car: Many big cities have great public transportation and certain hotels have drop offs and pickups to tourist destinations. If you plan to take public transportation make sure you research in advance. Best bet is to avoid taxis which can be costly.