Everything you need to know to work in VR comfortably

Think about how you set up your workspace: adjusting your desk height, finding the right chair, positioning your monitors just so. Your VR headset deserves the same attention. When you’re using VR as part of your professional workflow, getting your setup dialed in means you can work comfortably for longer sessions and actually enjoy the process.

First things first: safety!

Before you jump into Gravity Sketch VR, make your environment safe. The goal is to avoid hitting your laptop screen, tripping over cables, or stepping on anything you’d rather not step on. Here’s what that looks like:

Use your VR headset indoors only. Outdoor light and unpredictable surfaces don’t mix well with immersive work.
Clear out trip hazards. Wires, cables, toys, pets—move them all. You want a clear path so you’re not navigating obstacles while immersed.
Keep power accessible. Have a wall socket or USB/USB-C port nearby in case you need to charge your headset mid-session. If you’re using a tethered headset, run the cable behind you and stay close enough to your computer that movement won’t tug on the connection.
Give yourself room to move. Ensure you have enough space to stretch your arms in any direction without hitting furniture, windows, or the ceiling.

Seated or standing?

Both work, but your choice depends on how long you’re planning to be in VR. For longer sessions, seated is often more comfortable, just make sure you’ve got a chair that lets you lean back without forcing you upright.

What makes a good VR chair? Typical office chairs support you well for computer work, but they’re too upright for VR and can strain your neck. If you sink down to look up, you’ll strain your lower back instead. Look for a reclining chair that lets your back angle slightly backward.

When standing, use the teleport function in Gravity Sketch’s VR interface to move around. This minimizes the risk of nausea and keeps you from wandering into furniture.

Let’s get comfortable

Everyone’s head is shaped a bit differently, so finding your best fit takes some experimenting. Here are a few tricks that can help:

Balance the weight of the headset

Too much weight pressing on your face gets uncomfortable fast. To minimize this, try balancing the weight at the center of your head by pulling more support from the back strap. Pull the back strap low so it supports the base of your skull, taking weight off your face.

You can also consider buying a third-party hard strap with soft padding and support for external batteries. This lets you counterweight the front part of the headset.

The key is making sure the headset isn’t pressing too hard on your forehead, cheeks, or nose

Adjust the lens position based on your IPD (Interpupillary Distance)

IPD is the distance in millimeters between the centers of your pupils. Everyone’s is different, and setting it correctly makes a huge difference for image clarity and reducing eye strain.

Adjust the lens position to match your IPD by following your headset manufacturer’s instructions. You can find your IPD by visiting an optician or using mobile apps like GlassesOn for iOS or EyeMeasure for Android.

After setting your IPD, if the image is still a little blurry, try adjusting the headset up and down so the center of the lens aligns with your pupil. Sometimes a few millimeters makes all the difference.

Using a VR headset with prescription glasses

Try the headset with and without your glasses to see what feels better. Generally, looking in VR is like looking at a distance. So if you only wear glasses for reading or computer work, you might be more comfortable without them in VR.

If you do use glasses in VR, use a spacer to create extra room between the headset and your face. Long-term, prescription lens inserts designed for your specific headset model are worth considering; they eliminate the glasses issue entirely.

Adjust brightness and use a blue light filter

To reduce eye strain, adjust brightness through your headset’s settings menu. Many headsets now offer blue light filters as well.

For example, on the Meta Quest 3, enable this by going to Settings → Display → Night Display and using the slider to select your preferred intensity. This can significantly reduce eye strain during longer sessions.

Start slow and take frequent breaks

Once you’ve mastered your VR setup, you should be comfortable creating in Gravity Sketch for extended periods. Use your time wisely and build in plenty of breaks:

If this is your first time using VR, start slow. Build up your tolerance session by session, starting with as little as a few minutes until you’re comfortable spending longer stretches in VR.
Don’t spend more than 45 to 60 minutes in VR before taking a break. If you’re planning a long session, break it into smaller chunks with at least 1 long break for every 2 hours.
Control the time. It’s easy to lose track of time in VR. Keep an eye on the clock on your non-drawing hand in Gravity Sketch, or set a timer to alert you when it’s time to take a break.
Do some eye exercises and stretches. when you take a break or finish a session. Even 2 to 3 minutes of basic stretches can make a significant difference over time and help prevent repetitive stress injuries.

Last but not least, take care of your VR equipment

These are simple rules to maintain your headset:

Clean the face foam or silicone cover regularly – it goes onto your face after all!
Wipe the plastic surfaces of the headset and controllers with antibac wipes or a wet cloth.
Don’t use chemicals to clean lens, use a dry microfibre cloth or distilled water misted onto a microfibre cloth.
Protect the lenses from direct sunlight to avoid damage. They are extremely sensitive to direct sunlight.