Digital Wellness: Balancing Screen Time and Mental Health in the Digital Age
By Alexandra Winn, Communications Specialist
The digital age has brought undeniable benefits, yet our relationship with our devices may be taking a toll on our mental well-being. With distractions like social media and constant notifications, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of endless scrolling, losing touch with the physical world- even when pressing tasks await our attention. Creating a balance between maintaining an online presence, nurturing social connections, and prioritizing mental well-being can be quite challenging.
Challenges of Technology Use
- Social Isolation: A decrease in face-to-face interactions can lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection.
- Spread of Negativity: The anonymity of the internet can facilitate the spread of hate and negativity quickly and easily.
- Blurred Work-Life Boundaries: Being constantly accessible can increase stress and lead to a higher risk of burnout.
- Technology Addiction: Constantly checking your devices or browsing online can detract from real-life experiences.
Steps to Improve Your Relationship with Technology
- Reflect on Your Internet Usage
- One of the best ways to assess how technology affects your mental health is to observe your emotions after interacting with it. Regular evaluations of your technology habits can foster a healthier relationship with devices. Consider these questions:
- Am I using technology to support my long-term goals?
- How do I feel after extended use of technology? Fulfilled? Insecure? Happy? Left Out?
- Am I spending enough time in the physical world, such as meeting with friends or engaging in outdoor activities?
- Use your reflections to set goals for how you want to use your devices to benefit your life.
- One of the best ways to assess how technology affects your mental health is to observe your emotions after interacting with it. Regular evaluations of your technology habits can foster a healthier relationship with devices. Consider these questions:
- Being Intentional with Technology Time
- Viewing technology as a way to foster connection, education, and well-being can change your relationship with your devices.
- A few ways technology can enhance our lives:
- Time Management and Productivity: Apps such as reminders, calendars, and Todoist can organize your schedule.
- Mindfulness and Mental Health: The Calm app helps manage stress through guided meditation, mood check-ins, and more.
- Fitness and Health: Use fitness apps/devices to track your fitness metrics such as steps taken, sleep quality, and heart rate.
- Learning and Personal Growth: Duolingo, Kindle, and Udemy offer great learning opportunities.
- Social Connection: Find events or meetups near you, engage in productive online conversations, and keep in touch with friends and family members.
- Take Time to Organize Devices
- Just as you work to create a minimalistic and organized workspace or bedroom to keep your thoughts clear, apply the same principle to your devices.
- Apps
- Delete Unnecessary apps that you don’t regularly use or are a cause of distraction
- Organize apps into folders for a clutterless screen and easier navigation.
- Notifications
- Silence unnecessary notifications that don’t require immediate attention.
- Use Do Not Disturb during focused work or to sleep.
- Manage Screen Time
- Use built-in features to limit screen time and add a Screen Time widget as a helpful reminder.
- Set time limits for certain apps.
- Background & Home Screen
- A meaningful background can bring us joy, motivation, or even relaxation when needed.
- Use widgets for reminders, showcasing fun photos, weather updates, and much more!
- Leverage Productivity and Organization Tools
- Set up calendars, notes, and reminder apps to organize tasks, events, and goals.
- Stay Updated and Informed
- Subscribe to newsletters to stay updated on topics that interest you. Research the newsletter/website and the company before subscribing, such as reading old editions.
- Follow reputable news outlets on social media or through direct apps. Make sure they have a good reputation and are providing accurate information.
- Apps
- Just as you work to create a minimalistic and organized workspace or bedroom to keep your thoughts clear, apply the same principle to your devices.
In an age where screens dominate our daily lives, finding a balance between technology use and mental well-being is essential. Reflecting on your screen time, limiting distractions, and setting boundaries allows you to reclaim control over your digital habits. Ultimately, the goal is to use technology to enhance our life, rather than a source of stress.