If you are like me you are working in deep concentration on your computer. What this usually means is that I’m forgetting about the time that has past. At the end of the work day or work period, I notice the effects on my body. This can be eye strain, headaches, or other body aches.

A program like Workrave acts as a reminder to take regular breaks. The software divides breaks into so called microbreaks which only take a few seconds, and rest breaks which last for a longer period of time. The breaks can be configured individually, with the possibility to even disable one type of break completely in the program options.

The program displays exercises for you on large breaks that help you rest your eyes and move your body to prevent aches at the end of the day. This can be something as mundane as moving the eyes around or stretching your arms.

The default micro break settings are triggered every three minutes which is way to often for my taste. I’d personally recommend either setting the micro break duration to every 15 minutes or even every 30 minutes, and the rest break interval to once an hour or two. That way, you are not disrupted every three minutes from work. While it is possible to postpone a break, it still requires you to interact with the program prompt.

The program provides you with a break statistic that you can access at anytime. Here you see the amount of breaks that you have taken on a specific day plus additional break related information that you may find helpful to identify break patterns.

You can also trigger exercise mode manually if you feel like it, for instance when you begin to feel aches or other symptoms of working on the PC for an extended period of time.