Your Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a journey. We'd love to walk it with you.

Each individual carries a unique combination of needs shaping their wellbeing. Whatever stage you're at, there's a next small step worth taking.

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Why It Matters

What actually moves the needle.

Some people seem to have a greater sense of wellbeing than others. Why? And what can the rest of us learn from them?

"Wellbeing" is increasingly used as a synonym for "happiness", but the two aren't quite the same. Wellbeing covers physical and psychological health, the quality of relationships between yourself and others, your sense of purpose and meaning, and even your financial situation.

Research has identified several things that meaningfully impact your wellbeing — and the good news is they're all within reach. These include practising gratitude, adopting a solution-focused mindset, and strengthening your sense of belonging and purpose.

Gratitude is probably the single biggest thing you could learn to positively impact your wellbeing. It's been shown to improve mood, immunity and sleep. Being thankful changes our brain chemistry — and it's both addictive and infectious.

Focusing on solutions rather than problems is critical to maintaining our wellbeing. Challenges are part of life, but shifting gear to think creatively about how to resolve them is empowering. It also gives you a framework to move through the situation quickly and effectively.

Fundamental to your sense of wellbeing is your support system: family, friends and those you share a sense of purpose with. Belonging to a group makes us feel valued, welcome, accepted and secure. Finding people who share your values dramatically increases your sense of wellbeing.

"Your wellbeing is a journey, and we'd love to be part of it."

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Digital Eye Strain: When Your Eyes Never Get a Break

Articles

September 30, 2026•3 min read

Whether you’re working from home, studying, catching up on emails, scrolling through your phone, or relaxing in front of the TV, screens have become a constant part of our everyday lives.

While computers, smartphones, tablets and televisions have been around for years, the amount of time we spend looking at them continues to increase. For many of us, there is very little opportunity for our eyes to truly rest. We might spend the day looking at a laptop for work, then pick up our phone during a break, and finish the evening watching Netflix or scrolling through social media.

With this constant cycle of screen use, you may have noticed symptoms such as blurred vision, tired or heavy eyes, headaches, difficulty focusing, or a feeling of pressure around the eyes. Your eyes may also feel dry, irritated or scratchy, particularly towards the end of the day. You may even find yourself thinking, “My eyes just aren’t what they used to be.”

What is digital eye strain?

Digital eye strain is the discomfort and fatigue that can occur after prolonged periods of focusing on digital screens at close or intermediate distances.

Our eyes are designed to continually change focus and look at objects across different distances. However, spending hours concentrating on a screen places sustained demands on our focusing system. We also tend to blink less when concentrating on a screen, which can contribute to dryness and irritation.

The issue isn't necessarily one screen in particular but the cumulative amount of screen time throughout the day. When we finish work on the laptop and immediately move to our phone or television, our eyes may not get the opportunity to properly relax.

While there is no magic cure for digital eye strain, there are simple things you can do to make your eyes more comfortable:

Follow the 20/20/20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from your screen and look at something around 20 metres away. The important part is giving your eyes a genuine break from close-up focusing.
Make sure your prescription is up to date. Uncorrected vision problems can make your eyes work harder, particularly when using screens for long periods. Your optometrist can also check for focusing or eye-coordination issues that may contribute to discomfort.
Remember to blink. We naturally blink less when concentrating on a screen. Making a conscious effort to blink regularly can help keep your eyes comfortable. If your eyes feel persistently dry or gritty, lubricating eye drops or artificial tears may also help.
Keep your screen at a comfortable distance. Avoid holding your phone or positioning your laptop excessively close to your face, as closer viewing requires more focusing effort.
Give your eyes a break between screens. If you've spent all day on a laptop, try not to immediately replace it with your phone or another screen. Where possible, take some time to look outside, go for a walk, or simply relax without a screen.

Screens aren't going anywhere and neither are our increasingly digital lifestyles. The goal isn't to avoid technology, but to become more aware of how much time our eyes spend focusing on screens throughout the entire day.

If you regularly experience blurred vision, headaches, eye fatigue, dryness or discomfort, don't simply put it down to “too much screen time.” An optometrist can assess your eyes and help determine whether your symptoms are related to digital eye strain or whether there is another underlying vision issue.

digital eye strain

Wellbeing Australia Network

Wellbeing Australia is a national, not-for-profit network dedicated to strengthening the healthy relationships that underpin individual and community wellbeing with a particular focus on family, education, and workplaces. At Wellbeing Australia, we act as a central point of connection across diverse fields, bringing together educators, youth and community services, mental health professionals, health practitioners, businesses, and policymakers who share a vision for holistic wellbeing and human flourishing. Our approach is both integrative and proactive. By bridging research, practice, and lived experience, we turn wellbeing from an abstract idea into a living culture, one that anticipates challenges, nurtures resilience, and supports sustained positive change. More than advocacy for wellbeing, our network connects, amplifies, aligns, and acts as a national catalyst helping individuals and organisations translate values into action, align local innovation with national standards, and collectively shape a future where wellbeing is embedded in everyday life.

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