IN today’s contemporary society, technology plays a significant, and often necessary, role in our everyday lives. While technology, including the internet and social media, brings numerous advantages, it can also have adverse effects on your mental and physical well-being. So how much screen time is too much screen time?
As per a Time Magazine article, experts find it challenging to agree on an acceptable limit for screen time, mainly because it plays an integral role in most people’s professions. A suggested viewpoint is that the quantity of hours spent in front of a screen may not be the important factor. Rather, the focus should shift to evaluating the nature of the content being consumed.
Also read: Internet addiction – How much screen time is too much?
Some of the negative signs of too much screen time are:
- obesity
- impaired sleep
- mental health issues like depression and anxiety
- eye strain
- neck and back problems (from poor posture)
How to reduce your screen time:
- Track your screen time and habits – By tracking your screen time and habits, you will be able to know where to cut down.
- Limit your number of screens – Multiple screens can lead to overstimulation and increase the potential negative side effects.
- Make your phone less appealing – Our phones provide us with good feelings. Make your phone less appealing by putting it on silent, turning it to grayscale and lowering the brightness.
- Schedule screen-free breaks – Partake in screen-free activities like reading, painting and/or going on walks.
- Skip the screen and go old school – Ditch the online calendars and stick to the old faithful bullet journals and diaries.
- Set clear work boundaries – Make your time on screen clear by doing what is required for work and then taking a break before engaging in other personal content.
- Switch off before bed – Don’t go to bed staring at your phone. Studies show that it not only makes it harder to sleep but reduces the quality of sleep.
In the end, it’s crucial not to be overly critical of yourself regarding your screen time. Implementing just one or two of these tips, even if that’s all you can manage, has the potential to bring about positive improvements in your overall health and well-being.
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