Get on top of your screen time

Many of us are always searching for new ways to improve our lives. But what if the power to transform a significant part of our lives is already in our hands? Making changes towards a healthier, more mindful way of life will require us to first acknowledge and address our unhealthy relationship with technology, including our phones, computers, et al.

Where are we now?

The pandemic has made both companies and individuals adopt digital technology in new ways and at an unprecedented rate - and these practices are here to stay. This means that it's going to get increasingly harder to cut off completely from our electronic devices.
While social media has helped us stay connected with far-off family and friends, constant connectivity has made us less engaged during face-to-face interactions. In fact, higher screen time has been linked with increased anxiety and depression.
Prolonged use of digital devices has tell-tale physical manifestations like neck pain, poor posture, eye strain and wrist pain, so do keep an eye out for these signs.

What can you do?

Drawing boundaries with technology helps in maintaining the very purpose for which we have embraced technology – to stay connected, efficient and productive.
Adopt technology best practices, such as staying away from your digital devices when you first wake up and just before you go to bed, or blocking out negative content. Or, why not set your device to help you restrict your screen time?
Bring the family in on setting boundaries for technology use. Demonstrating your own restricted usage and monitoring your children’s use of technology can help everyone build a healthier relationship with technology in the long-run.

What’s next?

If your technology use is bordering on compulsiveness, take the time to understand the extent of your problem and take a digital vacation, or chalk out a sustainable plan to wean excessive behaviour.
Remember that technology is a tool that must work for you – if it runs amok, you find yourself lost in its web (pun intended!) Use technology with intention and you'll see your stress levels reduce.

There’s no way we can cut off completely from the digital world and activities nowadays, but with a little self-care, we can negate and even reverse the harms of technology use.