The Harms Caused by Too Much Screen Time
By Rachel Shouse
Technology is everywhere nowadays. It's in cars, schools, homes, stores ... you get the picture. It can be hard as adults to learn self-control and self-discipline. Everyone soaks up too much screen time at one point or another. Self-evaluating your screen time, learning how to reduce it, and implanting new healthy habits are how you fix this problem.
Self-Evaluating Your Screen Time
It's difficult to self-evaluate as an adult. There's no one to tell you that you need to get off of the phone or computer. Unfortunately, when no boundaries are set a very real problem can arise. Studies show that screen time has astronomically increased. The average screen time for an adult is 11-12 hours per day. That's literally a whole day, give or take some time to sleep and otherwise care for yourself.
Most phones have the capability to monitor your screen time. If you check your settings or even search your phone model online, you'll be able to find how you enable that feature.
Learning Self-Discipline With Regards to Screen Time
Setting up boundaries as an adult can be hard. It's hard for parents to stick to their guns with their kids boundaries on a good day. So, sticking to a routine yourself may be difficult. You can do it for sure, but be sure to give yourself some grace if you find yourself wandering towards your phone more than you had planned.
A good way to reduce your screen time quickly is by turning off notifications. If your phone is constantly dinging of course you're going to want to look at it non stop. These little checks here and there really add up. If you notice that this isn't working, it may be time to eliminate some apps. While social media is handy in it's own right, it has a way of taking time from you.
Healthy Activities You Can Do Instead
If you feel like you're constantly crunched for time, overwhelmed by how much you need to get done, and/or feel like you'll never get caught up on life tasks, amputate the cell phone or computer. Instead of using technology so often, try implanting new habits. Fun habits mind you.
Think about something you love to do that has nothing to do with technology. Do you like to take pictures, a camera is technology but for all intent and purpose it doesn't count right now, do you like to go for hikes? Everyone has something they either like to do now or used to do. Take the time to think about it.
Too much screen time doesn't only take your time, but it can deplete your mental health as well. Studies show that with the escalation of reported screen times there's also been a rise in not only depression but severe depression as well. Make sure you think about that when you're working to reduce your screen time.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Clearwater, Fla.