Screen-work breaks: the 20-20-20 rule
Take regular breaks and set up screen, chair, and keyboard to avoid strain. The exam trap is confusing 'regular breaks' with 'any break' – EPSO expects a specific pattern.
Escuchar esta página (beta)
The 20-20-20 rule is the specific pattern EPSO expects: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This is not just any break—it targets eye strain by forcing your ciliary muscles to relax. Contrast this with a general 'stand up and stretch' break, which helps posture but does not directly address screen-induced visual fatigue. The rule is simple but precise, so memorise the three numbers in order: 20 minutes, 20 feet, 20 seconds.
A common exam trick is to swap the numbers, e.g. 'look 20 inches away' or 'break every 20 seconds'. Eliminate options that mix up distance or frequency. Another trap: confusing the 20-20-20 rule with the 'take a 5-minute break every hour' guideline—both are valid but the question specifically asks for the rule about screen work and eye strain. If the answer mentions 'any break', it is likely wrong because EPSO wants the structured pattern.
To lock this in, picture a clock: the minute hand moves 20 minutes, then your eyes shift to a distant tree (20 feet) for 20 seconds. That visual sequence—clock, tree, count—makes the three numbers stick without mixing them up. In a multiple-choice question, scan for the triplet '20-20-20' and reject any answer that deviates from that exact order.
What is one simple ergonomic rule for screen work?
Take regular breaks and set up the screen, chair, and keyboard to avoid strain.