Physical Health and Wellbeing

Long term use of computers and other devices can have some pretty damaging effects on your physical health. The first place people tend to experience issues is in the eyes. Extended screen time can cause eye strain and dryness, leading to fatigue, headaches, and blurry vision. Reduce your risk of these side effects by practicing the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, look away at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Looking at something at this distance helps relax the muscles that control your eyes and prevent prolonged eye strain. 

Finally, the blue light emitted from device screens can disrupt your sleep patterns. Before the widespread use of technology, the primary source of light for people was the sun. This light naturally darkened in the evening, helping our bodies transition into night time and sleeping. Blue light is a wavelength of light emitted from digital screens, and while it can boost reaction times and attention, those are not beneficial effects when trying to go to sleep. Prolonged exposure to blue light can disrupt your sleep cycle and prevent you from getting enough restful sleep. Reduce your risks by limiting screen time in the evening, or using glasses or screen covers that filter out blue light. Most devices also have a “night light” setting that reduces blue light emissions and gives the screen more of an orange tint; you can program these to come on at a certain time each night.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Along with taking care of your physical body, you also need to protect your mental health while living in a digital world. Negative interactions online like experiencing harassment, bullying, or hate speech can cause anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Protect yourself by not engaging with trolls and using a screen name to protect your identity in sensitive spaces. Spending time on social media sites and engaging with a constant barrage of news can cause FOMO, or the fear of missing out, anxiety, and depression. Too much time online can lead to digital addiction and dependence on technology. This can cause issues in your relationships, a decrease in your academic success, and disrupt your sleep cycle. Reduce your risk by taking frequent breaks and making sure to monitor the time you spend on various websites.

Remember, your health is most important and needs to come first!