Free tool
Screen break timer: the 20-20-20 rule
Set it and get back to work. Every 20 minutes it reminds you to look away for 20 seconds, then starts again. Runs in your browser, no download.
0 breaks taken today in this browser
How to use it
- Pick how often you want a break. Twenty minutes follows the 20-20-20 rule.
- Press Start timer and keep this tab open.
- When it chimes, look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for the 20-second countdown, and blink fully a few times.
- The next interval starts by itself. Pause or reset any time.
Make the break count
- Look out of a window if you can. The idea is to rest your focus on something far away.
- Blink fully. People tend to blink less while they concentrate on a screen.
- After two hours of screen work, take a longer break of about 15 minutes. A short game is a change of task, but your eyes are still on a screen.
Want to see how your eyes feel across the week? The free Ocufuse web app lets you log it in a few seconds a day. Read more in Screen time and eye comfort.
Questions
What is the 20-20-20 rule?
Every 20 minutes of screen time, look at something about 20 feet (6 metres) away for 20 seconds. Eye care organisations such as the American Optometric Association suggest it as a simple way to rest your eyes from close-up work.
Does the timer keep running in another tab?
Yes. It keeps time from the clock, so it stays right in a background tab. Browsers can delay sounds in background tabs; turn on the browser notification if you want a reminder you'll see.
Is anything sent to Ocufuse?
No. The timer runs in your browser. The number of breaks you took today is kept in this browser only.
Will this fix eye strain?
A timer can't treat anything. Regular breaks are a habit that eye care guidance recommends for comfort during screen work. If discomfort keeps coming back, see an eye care professional.
General information about habits and record keeping, not medical advice. If something about your eyes worries you, see an eye care professional.