Workrave Typing-break Reminder
Workrave is a free (GPL) app for Linux and Windows that reminds you to take typing breaks (with configurable timing, of course).
I found out about it from the Gnome-announce mailing list, of all places. Obviously, their focus was on the Gnome/Linux version, though I’ve used just the Windows version so far. Unsurprisingly, because the Windows version is based on the GTK toolkit, it’s still very… Linux-looking ;).
If you care about preventing RSI, it couldn’t hurt to give Workrave a try. By default, it comes configured to suggest a 30 second “micro-pause” break every 3 minutes, and a 10 minute rest break every 45 minutes (those numbers are from memory, but I think those are about right).
I’m not expert on typing-injury prevention, but that seemed awfully frequent to me (?). If anyone can speak to what kind of numbers are suggested in the scientific community, let me know (for all I know, perhaps that’s how Workrave derived its defaults, but I’m not sure). In the meantime, I’ve configured to the micro-break interval for 10 minutes, which seems a bit less intrusive.
The main problem here is that there are no “right” defaults. The settings that are required are different from person to person.
For example, I use workrave with a 25 second micropause every two and a half minute, and a 10 minute restbreak every 20 minutes. I need these frequent breaks, because I’m recovering from RSI. And as I recover, I change the settings to fewer breaks.
If you have never had any problem at all (using the computer, that is), then you may want much fewer breaks, say 10 seconds micropause every 10 minutes, and a 5 minute restbreak every hour.
It is very hard to give proper guidelines here. My best advice is to play around and see what works for you. Which settings “feel right”. Basically, that’s how Workrave’s defaults evolve.
Any pointers to more scientifically founded advice are of course very welcome :-)
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