Burnout syndrome: Ergonomic tips and active breaks
Spending 8-10 hours a day in front of a computer is the reality for most freelancers and workers in the digital age. However, continuous exposure to screens, along with a sedentary posture and the absence of breaks, often leads to what is known as Burn-in screen syndrome or digital exhaustion.
This physical and mental exhaustion not only reduces productivity, but also affects health by leading to eye fatigue, back pain, insomnia, and chronic stress. To combat it, you don’t need to radically change your life: applying small ergonomic improvements and integrating active breaks into your day-to-day life can make a big difference.
1. Optimize your workspace: basic ergonomics
The posture you work in determines how your body feels at the end of the day. An ill-adapted environment accelerates the onset of fatigue.
- Screen height: The top of the monitor should be in your eye line and about an arm’s length away.
- 90 degree rule: Keep your arms and legs at a 90° angle. Your feet should touch the floor flat and your wrists should rest neutrally on the keyboard.
- Adequate lighting: Avoid direct reflections on the screen and prioritize indirect natural light to reduce eye strain.

2. Active breaks and the 20-20-20 rule
Sitting for hours on end without interruptions is the main enemy of well-being. Active breaks help to reactivate circulation and relax the mind.
to apply itRule
| Technique / Exercise | How | Main benefit |
| The 20-20-20 | Every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet (6 meters) away for 20 seconds. | This reduces eye strain and eye strain. |
| Neck and shoulder stretches | Perform gentle rotations of the neck and raise the shoulders towards the ears for 5 seconds. | Release the accumulated tension in the cervical area. |
| Short walks | Get up every hour to drink water or take a short 2-minute walk. | Activate venous return and disconnect your mind. |
3. Switch environments to change chips
One of the factors that most fuels burnout syndrome It is the monotony of the environment, especially for those who telework isolated from home. The mixture of personal and work space makes it difficult to disconnect mentally.
Working from an environment designed for concentration and well-being, such as a coworking space, brings a beneficial change of scenery:
- Clear separation: Defining the beginning and end of the day helps to disconnect when returning home.
- Professional furniture: Access to ergonomic tools, tables and chairs that we often don’t have at home.
- Human interaction: Having a coffee or chatting with other professionals breaks isolation and reduces stress.

Take care of your health to take care of your business
Professional performance does not depend on how many hours you spend in front of the screen, but on the quality of those hours. Incorporating ergonomic habits and active breaks is the first step to prevent Exhaustion.
If you feel that teleworking from home is taking its toll on you, at Espai 114 you will find equipped facilities and a balanced work environment in the centre of Badalona to regain the rhythm and well-being in your day-to-day life.
We are the Badalona Business Centre, to give visibility and opportunities to your business. At Espai 114 we form a team together; We want to inspire you and accompany you.






















