Limiting our screen time! Prevention is better than recovery
Hi everyone! I hope you are well. We love the internet, we can’t get enough of it. We love our games, and our social media platforms and we can’t even forget the streaming platforms. Gotta watch our shows, chat with our friends and stay in touch with what our favorite celebrity is doing today. Then there is the reality that for most of us we make a living working with computers in one capacity and then another.
Many of us switch from work computers to our phones to home laptops. It’s screens all day. We can’t seem to part with them. However, this excessive and intense use of screens can create minor to major issues that lower our quality of life.
Let's learn about the dangers of excessive screen time. Repeated exposure to prolonged screen time especially one involving intensive activities (reading subtitles on your favourite Netflix series, preparing a long assignment or playing an intense game)
Cybersickness (its like motion sickness but caused by the use of screens)
Eye strain (dry eyes and even vision issues)
Aches and pains caused by bad posture or too much sitting
Impaired socializing skills
Trouble regulating emotions (Think about how you feel after binging your favourite show, likely sleep-deprived and moody)
Of course, there is no escaping screens, it's part of how we earn our livelihood and we must use them to get school work done or to keep in touch with loved ones. However, caution must be practiced and conscious steps must be taken to avoid undesirable effects.
How can we minimize risks?
If possible get up and move a few steps every 30 minutes
Do eye exercises between long durations of screen time. A simple google search with give you many options
Set alarms/reminders for you to get some movement in during long periods of time spent on screens
Avoid switching from one screen to another repeatedly. (Getting your assignment done on a laptop only to go scroll on your fav social media platform after)
Stop using screens at least an hour before bed
Pick up activities that require zero screen time
Avoid looking at your phone when with family/out with friends
Take steps to reduce your use of non necessary apps/activities that happen on a screen (social media browsing, reducing gaming time if needed/applicable)
I hope this message came before some of the negative effects have set in for you and yes I am aware of the irony of this post, typed on a screen and being broadcasted to others on a screen but how else can I reach you?
What are you doing today to reduce your screen time?
@Hope they are called 'cell' phones, cause they imprison us.
I can't stay in the net for long periods of time, I'm not used to it. It makes me dizzy. So I'm ok for now ❤
@Hope
Thank you for this post! My screen time has been excessive lately. I am trying app timers to improve on it.
@Hope
thank you so much for this post, hope! 💛
@Hope
Computers and smartphones have become "the" tools of our time to do almost everything.
I make a distinction between, on one hand, high-value online activities, like learning from Coursera or The Great Courses, doing my tasks and supporting people in Cups, and keeping alive my network of friends and family (much facilitated by messaging).
And, on the other hand, low-value online activities like falling into the rabbit hole of mindlessly browsing silly Youtube videos, social media posts, or irrelevant stories through CNN and newspaper sites, for example. Those might help to relax for a short while, but are definitely detrimental if extended too much.
We need to cope with the side effects of the prevalent way of doing things these days, and your list of strategies is a great prescription for keeping our sanity.
In my case, I have found that regular exercise of some sort, and stopping now and then to focus on a distant thing through my window, help me balance so much sedentary time and absorption on my PC screen. Also Pomodoro timers and being aware of my use of time through time trackers like (free) Toggl Track app and web service.
Ironically, my screen stays all black when I try to read your post in the app in dark mode, Hope. ⚫
@Hope - I was able to read it now, after switching to the large screen (to then read the advice that I shouldn't switch screens... 🤣 ). I fully agree.
If you read this, go and find an offline hobby. Now. Taking walks, gardening, playing an instrument, crafting, reading, or even just sitting outside in the sun, whatever comes to mind. Do it, just for a couple minutes!
(I'll go outside now and will start plucking berries)
@Hope
There are a couple of things I do to reduce my screentime:
1) Spending more time outside with friends (When I'm out with friends, my attention is on them and not on my phone)
2) Clean (Once I get into cleaning I want to make sure everything is spotless, it usually takes around an hour when I'm focused)
3) Listening to music (Listening to music is entertaining and it doesn't require eyes on screens)
4) Spending time with family (Like spending time with friends, spending time with my family also gets my attention off devices)
@Hope I am trying to read or something but my attention is very poor currently. I will use my phone to cope right now. It wasn’t always like that. I know what has happened to me
@Hope
It's so important post! 😟
@Hope
I get up often to do chores, to do my physical therapy exercises, to care for my grandchild when she gets home from school, and do exercising walks outside.
Words of wisdom
