Micro Breaks

We don't have to get all scientific about it; we all know that sitting for long hours in front of a computer takes quite a toll on our bodies, whether we like it or not.

Fortunately, by taking regular and thoughtful breaks for stretching or light exercises, you can ameliorate some of the negative effects. If you're daily workflow mostly revolves around working online and Google Chrome is your browser of choice, then there's a little extension that might be of interest to you that goes by the name of Micro Breaks.

Basically, this featherweight Chrome extension helps you schedule regular breaks, thus helping you improve your overall productivity by relieving joint or muscle pain and the level of strain on your eyes.

It lets you know when it's time to take a break with the help of both icon and desktop notifications. It's quite effortless to install and using it is nothing short of a walk in the park. It comes with four default, self-explanatory break modes namely Breathing, 20/20/20, Break, and Exercise.

The first one is recommended for relieving stress through a couple of breathing exercises, the second one notifies you when you should stare at a distant object that's at 20 feet away to prevent digital eye strain, and the last one urges you to stand and stretch in order to  prevent joint immobility.

Of course, these modes can be edited and tweaked according to your needs, and you can also add new custom ones, as well, with some options regarding the icon, title, and the timetable for each break. Evidently, both forms of notification alerts can be disabled from its compact, drop-down UI. While we're on the subject, we have to point out that it would have been nice if the extension would allow you to add sound notifications, a feature that is currently unavailable.

Taking everything into account, Micro Breaks is a lightweight and efficient Chrome extension that can help you relieve some of the stress caused by sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time. Of course, if you only choose to give it a chance and commit to your scheduled breaks.