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?