Attention all people who work with computer monitors or televisions in low or reduced-light conditions: do you find you frequently suffer from headaches as your shift moves on? The reason may be eyestrain.

The bright lights and colors emitted by the screen take more energy for your eyes to process when compared to the dim lighting or the dark walls in your environment, and could thus cause the strain leading to headaches. The simple answer is to try and fill your line of vision with some soft light to at least balance the contrast. This can be achieved with a cheap desk lamp set behind the monitor.

One drawback to the desk lamp option is the heat the extra bulb or bulbs may put out. This was the case in my small home, where I had a three-bulb lamp providing ambient light behind our TV, which was giving me headaches during my primetime viewing. The solution was relatively cheap and adds a fun splash of color.