3 Benefits of Putting Your Phone Down
By Genevieve Cunningham
Phones are a staple in our modern society. Do you go anywhere without your phone? Probably not. You take it to work, on your jog, out with friends, and everywhere in-between. The good news is that phones bring a lot of advantages into our lives. They provide instant communication and information. They give us directions and stifle boredom. But there can be a lot of disadvantages to phone use as well. In fact, you may be surprised at how much your life improves with just a little less phone use. If you're interested in boosting your health and well-being, take a look at these positive side effects that may come from setting your phone aside.
More Physical Activity
When we're on the phone all the time -- whether we're talking, texting, or browsing social media -- we're sedentary. We're on the couch or on the bed doing very little activity other than moving our fingers. If we put the phone down a bit, we're much more likely to get up and move. And as we move, our health overall is likely to see an improvement. If you've found that your own physical activity has been on the decline, consider putting down your device and going outside. It might make a huge difference in your health and overall well-being.
Better Mental Health
Being connected is good. But being too connected -- it's really bad for our mental health. The truth is that we need time to turn off our brains. To stop worrying or overthinking. To step out of the drama of the world and just relax. But if you're always on your phone, you're not giving yourself that opportunity. Make a plan for putting down your phone for just a few minutes every day, and you may find that those few minutes are the least stressful all day long.
Less Pain in the Back and Neck
When we're on the phone, we bend our necks and slouch our backs. We don't usually hold good posture while on the phone, and this can lead to significant pain in the back and neck. Getting off of the phone allows our necks and backs a break. We can stretch them out and maintain much better posture. If you think that this doesn't really matter, you should know that medical professionals are seeing a rise in a physical curvature of the neck that they attribute to excessive phone use. It literally changes your body! Put the phone down to relieve the pressure and correct your posture before it's too late.
Phones can be so useful. They can connect us to so many resources and keep us in the know. But too much phone use brings massive health threats. Make a plan, get some help, do whatever it takes to ease the phone use in your life. When you do, you'll find your health and life improve in ways you didn't even realize were lacking.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Winter Springs, Fla.