Blogging as a hobby is super rewarding, in so many ways. It gives us the chance to express ourselves online, to meet new friends and [if we're lucky!] to collaborate with brands & build new relationships. I proper love it and have enjoyed all the opportunities that 2016 has brought me like, so so much.
I've dedicated every second of my spare time to blogging recently, and I'm loving it. But there are a couple of downsides to burning the candle at both ends - and not just the heightened amount of coffee consumed > participation in social activities ratio [which I can totally deal with, tbh - I love coffee and many humans annoy me.] I've found that my new fav hobby has substantially increased the amount of time I spend staring at a computer screen OUTSIDE of my full time job; which again is 100% screen based, 9 - 5:30pm five days a week.
And if it's not a computer I'm glaring at [usually whilst bashing the keyboard in frustration or swearing] my eyes are normally glued to some other form of screen; namely my phone. Morning scroll, anyone? As I work full time, I have to cram blogging in of an evening, during every spare minute I get at the weekend and often have to pull late night coffee fuelled blog binges to get content out there. Reduced sleep, constant screen staring, long working hours and contact lenses = one tired-ass pair of peepers.
This is by no means a blogger exclusive issue - if you work in front of a computer, spend a large amount of your time looking at your phone's screen or enjoy gaming; you too may have noticed your eyes feeling dry, irritated or tired at some point. Especially if you're a contact lense wearer, like me. Or work in an office with over-keen air con.
But never fear, I've found the answer to our problems, fellow screen starers. Optrex have very kindly sent me some of their Warming Eye Masks* and an Actimist 2 in 1 Eye Spray for Dry, Irritated Eyes* recently, which have become two of my MUST HAVE essentials in my blogging kit and also, items I'm planning to get my Football Manager obsessed gaming Dad for Christmas.
But never fear, I've found the answer to our problems, fellow screen starers. Optrex have very kindly sent me some of their Warming Eye Masks* and an Actimist 2 in 1 Eye Spray for Dry, Irritated Eyes* recently, which have become two of my MUST HAVE essentials in my blogging kit and also, items I'm planning to get my Football Manager obsessed gaming Dad for Christmas.
Recent studies have found that Brits spend [on average] more than six and a half hours a day staring at their screens; which can take its absolute toll on our eyes. More than half of the people surveyed admitted that they can suffer from dryness and irritation when staring at their screens or devices for too long. And I'm firmly with them on that.
Having dry eyes is a common condition; it occurs when your eyes don't produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly - which leads to the eyes drying out and becoming red, swollen or irritated. Some potential triggers for dry eyes include working with computers, dry climates and hot blowing air. Whereas the dry and hot climate factor definitely doesn't apply to us Brits at the moment [I can only wish it did, freezin'ell] the computer trigger is a BIG problem for me; with my occupation in IT and contact lenses.
If you're unsure whether you might be experiencing dry eyes, did you know that you can take the Optrex Blink Challenge & Face Off with a rather handsome chap named Rodrigo on their Facebook page? See if you can out stare his smouldering advances and if you can't & blink whilst gazing at him, you may well have dry eyes [like me, I'm a constant blinker!] Or head to their website and try out the Blink Test.
Fear not though, the Optrex ActiMist 2 in 1 Eye Spray for Dry and Irritated Eyes is a total babe for sorting out knackered eyes. It works to repair the oil layer of natural tear film which could have been affected by staring at your screen too long, air con or over zealous central heating. And the relief is instantaneous. I've literally just sprayed some then. Ahhhhh #Relief
This handy little spray is pretty much my new boyfriend; especially when it comes to beasting out a shed-load of blog posts. For me, it's become a blogger must-have - keep it by your laptop & use it during a marathon blogging / commenting spree and you'll honestly feel so much more refreshed and rearing to go. One of the best things about this product is that it can be used whilst you're wearing contact lenses [get in there!!] and it doesn't smudge your makeup either - so you can carry on rocking that fierce smokey eye as you work & spray. It provides you with a lovely cooling sensation to soothe tired eyes. Simply shut your eyes and apply up to four times a day. Job done.
Optrex ActiMist 2 in 1 Eye Spray for Dry and Irritated Eyes is available from Boots, Superdrug & other pharmacy / grocery stores. Each bottle contains [on average] about 100 sprays, each spray is clinically proven to provide relief for up to 4 hours and the product itself retails for £15.31. A small price to pay for comfort.
This cooling spray works a treat for me, and on the opposite end of the scale, Optrex Warming Eye Masks are equally unreal. Legit the most relaxing bit of self care time I've had in ages. These fab eye masks relieve and relax tired eyes in just 10 minutes, using super cool Microsteam technology to do their thang. I've tried out the unfragranced masks for this post, but you can pick these up with a relaxing lavender fragrance, too [available exclusively at Boots!] Before I start singing its praises further, it's important to note that you shouldn't use this mask whilst wearing contact lenses; so pop them out for this.
Driving to work, sitting for hours in front of a screen, long working days and never ending commutes can take their toll on your eyes, as well as your stress levels [ain't that the truth!] These NEW Warming Eye Masks from the eye care specialists at Optrex recognise the strain that a hectic working life can have on both your body and mind. Which is why they've released these Warming Eye Masks: the latest breakthrough innovation to relieve and relax tired eyes in just ten minutes.
With unique Microsteam technology, the mask starts to warm up when it's opened, releasing 10 minutes of gentle, soothing steam to sort your eyes & peace of mind right out. This is a one-of-a-kind innovation never seen in the UK before, making it a must have in my books.
Optrex's Warming Eye Masks encourage you to switch off completely; closing your eyes and taking ten minutes out - which is something I need and neglect far too regularly. My life is a busy and stressful place right now, as I'm sure a lot of yours are, too.
Pop on a mask before bed, after a long day at the office, to take a quick ten minute disco nap or whilst travelling. You can use a mask to relax pretty much anywhere, so I may well bust these bad boys out on my lunch hour at work, haha. And once your relaxation time is up, you can simply throw the mask away. BOOM.
I cannot recommend these masks enough. They make your eyes feel amazing... and not just your eyes, but the skin around them, your sinuses - the whole shebang. Everything feels relaxed, revitalised and just wow. I struggle to switch off from my thoughts and hectic lifestyle sometimes, but popping on one of these masks makes a remarkable difference for me.
It's super important to take some time out each day for self care, and I love that Optrex recognise and embrace this with their new products. They've actually taken this one step further with their Warming Masks, by joining forces with renowned sound engineer, techno wizard and former DJ Ash Sargeant to create a soothing soundtrack for you to listen to whilst chilling, to further enhance the eye mask experience. How cool is that? Head to YouTube to check out the Optrex soundtrack choices [Big Departure, Domestic Bliss, Reworked, Uncoupled & The Ride] and prepare to drift off to Cloud 9. Visit www.optrex.co.uk for more information.
These amazing masks are just £3.99 for a pack of 2 or £9.99 for a pack of 8; making them affordable as well as bloody amazing. Available at all good pharmacies and grocery stores - the lavender fragrance exclusively available at Boots.
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Do you suffer from dry eyes? Why not take Optrex's handy test on their Facebook page to check? These products are my new essential for any blogger burning the candle at both ends, which let's face it - unless we suddenly get as big as Zoella, is each and everyone of us!
*This post contains PR samples, but as ever, all opinions are very much my own
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