Chennai: Smartphones and other smart devices have become a necessity for learning, working, shopping, finances, business, entertainment, events and more. While it has been helpful in many facets of life, the effects of smartphones, screen time and scrolling are many.
If left unaddressed, it can change the way we function and thrive as a race, both physically, emotionally and cognitively. City- based Psychologist & EQ Coach, Nivetha Raj addresses this concerning issue and shares ways to self-regulate.
Smartphones are undoubtedly fantastic tools, they make life easier with their multiple functions. However, extensive use of smartphones, increased screen time and endless scrolling are three red flags. Screen time takes up a significant part of our lives, imagine the amount of information, content, visuals, movement and colors you come across in a span of one minute. Letās take a look at the impact of all this.
When the mind is exposed to an overload of information, it directly impacts key cognitive functions such as language, attention, memory, perception, learning and reasoning. That means it hampers our everyday productivity. The practice of texting/typing leads to stress onto our fingers and palms, which affects nervous system functioning and fine motor skills.
The monitorās light affects the way our eyes perceive information. Increased screen time reduces the frequency of blinks, which is a leading cause for dry eyes. While the act of scrolling is easier, our mind gets overwhelmed as it attempts to consume an unrealistic amount of information in a fraction of a second. Social media apps have changed the way we foster relationships. This has impacted our feelings, expressions and perspectives.
A recent study showcased that teens across the world felt lonelier than ever before and one causative agent was the use of smartphones. Virtual communication has affected our language skills, with abbreviations, emojis, GIFs and auto-correct. Insomnia has been on the rise thanks to all the swiping and scrolling.
The mind is constantly overactive, hence it finds it harder to relax and shut down at the end of the day. Being glued to the screen increases the chances of a sedentary lifestyle, which underlies health issues. This is a just a brief look at the impact we are all living in. Here are some ways we can self-regulate as individuals to lessen these effects in our lives.
Self-regulating practices to limit screen time
Monitor your daily screen time, understand where you need to curb it. Aim for intentional use instead of mindless use. Itās easy to scroll for just a few minutes only to find that youāve spent nearly an hour on your phone. Take digital detoxes. Avoid smartphones at least one hour before bedtime – unless you are using them for sleep time podcasts. Blink your eyes more often (intentionally) and exercise them. Donāt be actively engaged onto more than one device at a time.