Eye Fatigue Self-Acupressure Introduction — Start with These 3 Points for Beginners

Acupressure isn’t difficult

Are your eyes strained from looking at screens for long periods lately? I’ve been there too. But the good news is that there are acupoints on your fingers, wrists, and the back of your neck that can relieve eye fatigue. You don’t need to be a doctor or expert. Anyone can touch their own body. This guide will explain three acupoints, their exact locations, and how to press them in an easy way for you who are learning acupressure for the first time. No special tools needed, and it won’t cost you anything. You can start right now.

What to know before you start

The most important principle of acupressure is ‘moderation’. It’s not about pressing hard, but applying pressure that’s slightly uncomfortable. It shouldn’t hurt. It’s like how it feels good when a friend gives you a light tap on the shoulder. When doing acupressure, try breathing deeply. If you hold your breath, your muscles will tense up. Always remember to start in a comfortable position, with clean hands, and with a calm mind.

Just remember these 3 spots

First: Tai Chong (LR3)

How to find it: Look at the top of your foot. There’s a slightly indented area right in front of where the bone of your big toe meets the bone of your second toe. That’s Tai Chong. When you slowly touch that area with your finger, you’ll feel a slight tingling sensation. That’s the right spot.

How to press: Slowly press with your thumb. Press for about 3 seconds while exhaling, then release your finger while inhaling. Repeat this for 1 minute. The pressure should be at a level where you think “hmm, this feels about right” rather than hard.

Try pressing it at these times: Around 3 PM when your eyes are most tired, in the evening after leaving work when you want to rest your eyes, or when your body is generally tense.

Second: He Gu (LI4)

How to find it: Open the back of your hand. There’s a concave area between your thumb and index finger where they meet. To be precise, it’s where the bone of your thumb meets the bone of your index finger. You can find it easily by slowly touching that indented area with the thumb of your other hand.

How to press: Press that indented area with the thumb of your other hand. You don’t need to tense your whole hand. Just focus entirely on that point and press slowly. Press for 3 seconds while exhaling, and release while inhaling. Repeat this for 1 minute. Since it’s on your hand, you can do it anytime, right?

Try pressing it at these times: During work breaks when you want to give your hands a quick massage, when your vision seems blurry, or when you’re stressed. It’s also great when your fingertips feel numb.

Third: Feng Chi (GB20)

How to find it: Feel the back of your neck with your hand. Below the occipital bone (the rounded bone at the back of your head), where your neck meets your shoulders, there are two indented areas. If you trace your hand down from just behind your ear along your neck, you’ll feel a small valley-like area on each side between the lateral muscle (trapezius) and the front neck muscle. That’s Feng Chi.

How to press: You can press both Feng Chi points simultaneously with the thumbs of both hands, or press one side at a time with one hand. Since there are many neck muscles in this area, you can apply slightly stronger pressure, but you should still maintain a ‘non-painful level’. Press for 3 seconds and release for 3 seconds, repeating this for 1 minute. You’ll feel your neck melting away.

Try pressing it at these times: When your neck is stiff from looking at the computer for a long time, when you have a headache along with eye fatigue, or when you feel tired in the evening. When your neck becomes comfortable, your eyes become more comfortable too.

Beginner 3-minute routine

Try this in a comfortable spot right after waking up in the morning or after leaving work in the evening. First 1 minute: Tai Chong (top of foot) — You can press each foot for 1 minute, or press both feet simultaneously for 30 seconds each. Second 1 minute: He Gu (between fingers) — Alternate pressing both hands. Third 1 minute: Feng Chi (back of neck) — Sit comfortably and press both sides simultaneously with your thumbs. If you do these 3 things once in the morning and once in the evening, you’ll have a much more comfortable day. If you don’t have time, you can prioritize pressing the most tired areas first. Consistency is more important than perfection.

3 common mistakes

1. Pressing too hard — If you press to the point of pain, your muscles will become more tense. The right feeling is “hmm, this amount seems sufficient.” Pressing harder doesn’t mean better results.

2. Not breathing deeply — If you hold your breath while doing acupressure, the effect diminishes. Try breathing slowly and consciously. Press while exhaling, and release while inhaling. This breathing is very important.

3. Giving up after a few days — The effects of acupressure accumulate. You might not feel much at first, but if you do it consistently for about a week, you’ll notice a change like “huh? My eyes aren’t as tired these days.” Don’t judge too quickly.

Moving to the next level

Once you’re sufficiently familiar with these 3 acupoints, you can try two more. One is Jing Ming (inner corner of the eye), which is an acupoint located next to your nose at the inner corner of your eye. Gently tap it with your index finger, and your eye fatigue will melt away. The other is Tai Yang (temple), the area at the sides of the forehead. If you gently tap both temples with your knuckles, headaches and eye fatigue are relieved simultaneously. But for now, focus on mastering these 3 basic acupoints. With a solid foundation, it will be easier to apply them later.