If you’re like most people, there’s something you do excessively every day that’s pretty bad for your health. Maybe not as bad as cigarettes or fast food. But cutting back on it might still be good for both your physical and mental wellbeing.
This unhealthy habit? Screen time. Think about how many collective hours you spend staring into your phone, tablet, or computer on any given day. But on National Day of Unplugging—recognized this year from sundown on Friday, March 5, to sundown on Saturday, March 6—people across the country will take a 24-hour break from all their tech devices.
Of course, it’s not practical to swear off your gadgets all the time. But giving them up for a short period helps you realize your potential for going without them more often and ultimately achieve better tech-life balance.
Maybe you’re already aware of the way your tech addiction affects your daily life. According to a January 2018 study published in Digital Health, one-third of adults surveyed admitted they had spent less time with friends and family because they were glued to their phones. Furthermore, one-fifth said a friend or family member had ignored them because that person was on their phone.
Poor tech-life balance affects our wellbeing and quality of life in some unexpected ways. Thinking of learning to unplug more often? Consider some of the ways your life might improve…
You’ll be more active.
Less time in front of a screen means more time to get up and move around. You might not think you waste that much time scrolling through your phone, but a few minutes here and there can add up. This is especially true if you’re opting to check your email or your messages throughout the day. You might have heard of the term “nomophobia”—the fear of being unreachable. Let yourself overcome your fear and recognize that messages can wait. Use 10 or 20 minutes of downtime to go for a walk around the block. Your emails will be there when you get back.
And if you’re somebody who is seriously connected to your phone, you might find that all the time you waste adds up. If you suddenly have an extra hour in your day, you can finally enjoy the full workout you always thought you were too busy to do.
You’ll be less stressed.
Having constant connectivity was supposed to make our lives easier—instead, it has just made our lives harder. You might think that you’re being productive when you’re trying to shift between emails, text messages, web surfing, and whatever else you’re doing on your phone. Instead, you’re dividing your attention so much that you’re not able to accomplish anything sufficiently.
Another stressor is the constant comparison with others. People post polished depictions of their lives on social media and it makes us feel as if our day-to-day activities pale in comparison. The result is a compromised sense of self-worth.
By unplugging, you remove yourself from all the distractions, both the professional and the social. It makes it much easier to focus on your task at hand. You’ll get more accomplished and take a greater sense of satisfaction in it. If your project requires an electronic device, such as your computer, you can set up internet blockers to help you avoid social media sites and other black holes for mindless scrolling.
You’ll get more sleep.
Electronics aren’t just affecting your quality of sleep because you stay up late browsing through Pinterest. Electronics make it harder for you to fall asleep and stay asleep because they emit what’s known as blue light, wavelengths of light that increase your body’s alertness. That’s great during the day when you need to be awake and responsive—not so much at night. These wavelengths of light will also suppress your body’s production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
Poor sleep leads people to be chronically exhausted and even anxious. While some people have opted to try special glasses that block blue light, or to turn their phone’s settings to night mode, health experts recommend doing the obvious: avoiding screen time at night.
You’ll be less strained.
Being off your phone just feels better. People have a tendency to crane over their phones, putting stress on their neck, back, and even their hands. Their posture suffers and they develop stiffness.
It’s also not so great for your eyes. People who spend too much time looking at screens develop what’s known as computer vision syndrome (CVS for short), which is marked by blurred vision, headaches, light sensitivity, and a stinging or burning sensation in the eyes.
Put your phone away—your neck, back, and eyes will thank you for it.
Want more insight into how constant connectivity is affecting your health, plus tips on how you can survive your tech-free 24 hours? Visit www.nationaldayofunplugging.com.
