Workrave

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is no laughing matter. Continued computer usage can contribute to such an injury, hence the need to take breaks every so often is recommended. While you can remind yourself to step away from the desk for a breather, why not have a program handle these reminders for you?

Workrave is a solution whose goal is to limit computer usage. You can still use your computer to get things done, but too much of something is not a good thing — which is why it’s good to be reminded to take a break sometimes.

Zoning out because of something you’re doing on your PC is all too common, so the alerts sent out by Workrave are very much appreciated. Being too focused often has the corollary of omitting certain matters, ultimately affecting both your productivity and efficiency, and taking breaks can keep that from happening.

The program has three types of breaks: microbreaks, rest breaks, and a daily limit. Microbreaks are the short ones where you simply look away from the screen, while rest breaks are mainly used to step away from the desk, stretch a little, and just clear your head for a time.

The hard limit, as you would have guessed, is the Daily Limit time. This is where you’re supposed to stop using the computer altogether. All these break types are configurable: for instance, you can raise your daily limit but take more frequent breaks: it’s all about striking a balance.

The program will log the breaks you take, the ones you skipped, and so on. All of this is tabulated under the Statistics menu, which is quite neatly organized and provides a quick overview of your break habits.

A series of exercises is also provided for you to use. Some of them involve moving the eyes, doing some shoulder exercises, stretching your fingers, and so on. The instructions are clear and to the point, and the app even provides various images to help guide you along.

Workrave is a neat piece of software. It can help users prevent various types of injuries associated with prolonged computer use. Given its free and open-source nature, the program is easy to adopt, so it’s an easy recommendation.