With the boom of the technological age, it is difficult to think that we once survived in a world that was not at our fingertips! We can order food, look up information, set the alarm at our home miles away and even see and speak with our loved ones overseas. This is not to say that we cannot enjoy the wonderful and advanced world we live in, but it is a wake-up call that to recharge ourselves and health, sometimes we need to unplug the machines.
Here are 4 untold truths about excessive technology use and what we can do to recharge:
Blue light
This type of light can be very sneaky. It does not shine like a typical blue, but rather a subtle tinge that is housed by our cell phones, tablets, televisions, and computer screens. With the increase in technology use, we are being exposed to this ‘blue light’ for longer durations and at more intense levels. As a result, research has found that prolonged exposure to blue light may permanently damage the eyes by destroying the cells found inside the retina and contribute to cataracts (Elaine, 2000). And blue light may interfere with sleep. Read here for other ways to Improve Your Sleep. So take a break from the screens, put down the Kindle and read that paperback novel you bought years ago!
Depression & Mental Health
Although one can argue that technology has provided the world with a sense of connectedness and belonging, research says otherwise. A series of studies have found that as one’s internet and mobile phone use increases, so do their levels of depression, anxiety and overall psychological distress (Tayana, & Alejandro, 2016). Opposite to this, research has found that engaging in face-to-face interactions yields greater mental health benefits and overall life satisfaction (Knop et al., 2016). Get together with friends, go for a walk outside, or skip the drive-thru to speak directly with the cashier!
“Texting Thumb”
With the world literally at our fingers tips, we are giving our fingers, hands and even elbows more of a workout than we may realize…and not the ‘ I fit into that great pair of jeans’ type of workout! Repetitive stress injuries, rather those we sustain from repeating a similar action multiple times, are becoming a large problem. Moreover, Dr. Robert Wysocki (2016), an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in hand and wrist injuries, cautions against repetitive smartphone and/or computer use for prolonged periods of time. Prolonged use can lead to arthritis or “trigger thumb”, a painful popping or snapping whenever the thumb bends or straightens. Yikes!
Aches, Pains, and Strains
There are inevitable aches and pains that we will experience…especially as we age. However, we are not doing ourselves any favours by being hunched over our cell phones, tablets, computer screens or televisions. A stunning poll taken from over 15,000 young adults revealed that over 53.3% suffer from neck pain or numbness (Korpinen, 2011). Similar studies have found that over 80% of individuals consistently using a form of information technology experienced pain, numbness, and aches in their neck, hip and/ or lower back (Korpinen, 2010). A break to stretch every 30 minutes can significantly improve symptoms.
References
- Elaine, K. (2000). The effects of blue light on ocular health. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 94(6).
- Korpinen, L., & Paakkonen, R. (2010). Self-reported use of ICT (information and communication technology) uptake in 2002 and discomfort amongst Finns aged 45-66. Applied Ergonomics, 42(1), 85-90.
- Korpinen, L. (2011). Physical symptoms in young adults and their use of different computers and mobile phones. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 17(4), 361-371.
- Knop, K., Oncu, J., Penzel, J., Abele, T., Brunner, T., Vorderer, P., & Wessler, H. (2016). Offline time is quality time. Comparing within-group self-disclosure in mobile messaging applications and face-to-face interactions. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 1076-1084.
- Tayana, P., & Alejandro, L. (2016). Avoidance or boredom: negative mental health outcomes associated with use of information and communication technologies depend on uses’ motivation. Computers in Human Behavior, 58.
- Wysocki, Robert. (2016). When technology hurts. Rush University Medical Center: Health and Wellness. Retrieved from https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/when-technology-hurts
