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Limiting our screen time! Prevention is better than recovery

Hope September 22nd, 2023

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?


12
Tinywhisper11 September 22nd, 2023

@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 ❤

trueconfidant123 September 22nd, 2023

@Hope
Thank you for this post! My screen time has been excessive lately. I am trying app timers to improve on it.

LoveMyMoonflowers September 22nd, 2023

@Hope

thank you so much for this post, hope! 💛

HealingTalk September 22nd, 2023

@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.

cloudySummer September 24th, 2023

Ironically, my screen stays all black when I try to read your post in the app in dark mode, Hope. ⚫

1 reply
cloudySummer September 24th, 2023

@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)

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jzheng2025 September 25th, 2023

@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)


sensitivemom83 September 28th, 2023

@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

gentleBraid2726 September 28th, 2023

@Hope

It's so important post! 😟

4Jasmine September 28th, 2023

@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.

yellowCircle1647 September 29th, 2023

Words of wisdom