What is Digital Wellness and Why is It Important?
Male feet on digital scales with word yes surrounded by bottle of water, plate with healthy food and workout schedule paper. Concept of active and healthy lifestyle. Top view.
We have all heard about the other wellnesses – mental, physical, spiritual – but digital wellness is perhaps less well known. This is understandable. After all, it hasn’t been a concept for very long, and it is that, in fact, which is the key to understanding what it is. Digital wellness is intimately related to how we live today, surrounded by digital devices and connected globally through digital telecommunication. A simple hypothetical situation might adequately explain what digital wellness is and why it is now so important.
What is an average day for an average person in the developed world today? You might wake, and glance at your smartphone screen for the first time as you deactivate the bleeping alarm. Then, you might scroll through instant messages as you come to. Making your way downstairs for breakfast, you might spend some more time scrolling through social media as you kill some time at the breakfast table. Then it could be watching the news on your smart TV or playing music through a Bluetooth speaker as you dress and get ready. While on public transport into work, it is highly likely that you will have some headphones in, further checking messages and typing out some yourself to make arrangements for the day. Then you are at work, and it is hours staring at a screen. Your journey home repeats all the same motions, right up until bedtime.
Quite remarkable, isn’t it? Daily screen time for most people today is significant, and not totally benign. One’s digital health, in other words, is affected.
What Are the Dangers?
Synergy science, a company specializing in hydrogen water and digital health products such as EMF protection, warn that there are actually myriad health issues which are related to excessive screen time.
At the milder end of the spectrum, spending too much time looking at laptops, TVs and smartphones can cause things like eye strain, a painful neck, bad posture, and an increased risk of putting on excess weight.
As regards more serious mental health concerns, excessive social media use can contribute to depression and anxiety. It has been demonstrated that “achieving” a like, a post comment, or a retweet triggers a highly addictive dopamine release. This in turn can lead to a sense of worthlessness when not delivered. Excess screen time can also cause sleep deprivation, varying in severity.
A final serious physical issue is exposure to EMF radiation. While noticeable and severe symptoms are relatively rare in most people, less noticeable symptoms such as impaired concentration, poor sleep, and irritability are pretty commonly experienced.
Tips for Digital Health
So, as you can no doubt tell, digital health is no joke. Here follows some tips to ameliorate some of the dangers:
Limit Your Screen Time
And do this especially for children. There are actually features on many devices that can help you here.
Get Off Technology Two Hours Before Bed
As well as creating an oasis of real-world calm in your technology-filled day, this will also noticeably improve your sleeping.
Create a Tech-Free Zone
Try to make it your bedroom. This will give your body some respite from EMF exposure as you sleep. And for that matter, you can turn off your wireless router at night.
Take Breaks at Work
Excessive screen time when you are concentrating can cause the most severe symptoms. Break up your working day and try to get outside during the breaks.
There are many more tips besides that you can effectively employ to improve your digital health. This is, however, a great place to start.