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'The Times of India' brings you 'Hack of the Day'—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps.
In simple words it is: Simple fixes for smarter living.Your eyes burn after an hour of scrolling. They feel scratchy. Heavy. Like someone sprinkled sand in them.That is screen strain talking. The fix? Your phone already has it built in. You just need to flip a few switches.
Here are four ways to give your eyes a break:
1. Turn on Night Light or Night ShiftBlue light from your screen tricks your brain into thinking it is still daytime. So you cannot sleep. Plus it exhausts your eyes faster.
Night Light on Android and Night Shift on iPhone cut down this blue light after the sun sets.On Android:
- Open Settings, then Display, and tap on Night Light
- Turn it on
- Schedule it for sunset to sunrise
- Your screen goes warm and orange
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings, then Display & Brightness, then Night Shift
- Tap Scheduled and pick Sunset to Sunrise
- Slide the warmth bar if you want it more amber
Your screen looks softer. Your eyes relax. You sleep better too.2. Switch to Dark ModeWhite backgrounds blast light straight into your eyes. Dark Mode flips everything to black or grey. Way easier on your vision, especially at night or in dim rooms.Turn it on:
- Android: Settings > Display > Dark theme
- iOS: Settings > Display & Brightness > Dark
WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail—they all switch automatically once you enable it.
The difference is instant.3. Set limits on your appsWant less eye strain? Simple. Use your phone less.Both Android and iPhone let you set daily timers on apps. When time runs out, the app locks. So you take a break whether you planned to or not.On Android:
- Head to Settings, there you’ll find Digital Wellbeing & parental controls, and open up the Dashboard
- Tap the app you think you’re using the most
- Set how many minutes you want per day
- The app stops when you hit the limit
On iPhone:
- Open Settings, then tap on Screen Time, then App Limits
- Pick apps or whole categories
- Set your timer
- Similarly, the app stops when it runs out
Breaks let your eyes recover. They need it more than you think.4. Use Screen Distance (iPhone only)Got an iPhone with Face ID running iOS 17 or newer? There is a feature that watches how close you hold your phone.Holding it closer than 30 cm (about 12 inches) for too long strains your eyes. It also raises your chances of developing nearsightedness.Turn it on:
- Go to Settings, then click on Screen Time, and then Screen Distance
- Flip the toggle on.
Hold your phone too close for too long and the screen blocks everything. An alert pops up asking you to move it back. You can tap Continue or just hold it farther away.It is on by default for kids under 13. But adults should use it too. Proper distance means your eyes work less to focus.Pro tip: Stack all four together. Schedule Night Shift for evenings. Keep Dark Mode on all day. Set app timers to force breaks. Let Screen Distance keep you honest about how close you hold your phone. Your eyes handle enough stress already—give them the help they deserve.
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