During these strange times, I’ve become increasingly aware of the convenience and blessing in our technology-driven society. To think that just a few decades ago, our connectedness during a global pandemic would truly diminish — relegated to phone calls or snail mail. At one time, it would have been difficult to even get news, let alone communicate with others.
There’s a lot to be thankful for as we battle coronavirus. The times in which we live are full of the modern conveniences of the internet, Netflix, and video-conferencing. We carry little computers in our pockets and can connect to people around the world, read the news as it happens, access entertainment, and, for many of us, continue to work, even from our homes.
However, there’s a dark side to the convenience of our technology. These issues aren’t new — in fact, things like the effects of technology addiction and too much exposure to screens is becoming more documented. While much of this research focuses on how children are impacted (namely, in their mental and emotional development), adults are affected, too.
However, there is more at stake here than increasingly poor sleep habits, head and neck pain, and vision problems. Unfortunately, the perils of our digital world are not limited to physical symptoms — they go much deeper and can be difficult to discern immediately.
3 Ways Technology Can Jeopardize Health & Wellness
1) Overexposure to Stressors
According to an American Psychological Association survey, more than half of Americans say that news causes stress, anxiety, fatigue, and problems sleeping. At the same time, 1 in 10 Americans admit to checking the news every hour, while a robust 20 percent admit to “constant” monitoring of social media.
There’s an ever-present tension between being informed and being overwhelmed by news and media.
Now more than ever, we may feel the urge to be “in the know” and have the latest developments as they come.
Our access to news has changed. Instead of the nightly news and daily papers, we have 24-hour streams of pundit commentary and infinite access and exposure to news articles at all hours. The increasing sensationalism and focus on negative stories are, in large part, what has created the stress and sadness we feel when watching or reading news.
This isn’t to say the news is bad, or that we should remain ignorant instead of informed. What it is to say is that overexposure to news, particularly bad news, can take a mental, emotional, and physical toll on us.
For our health, it’s best to limit our intake of news media — be it television or the internet. Allow yourself some time each day to catch up, or even every few days. Force yourself to focus on your immediate life and those around you, versus the national and global happenings that you cannot control.
2) “Always-On” at Work
Our increasingly connected world has provided a great many opportunities in the workplace. We can connect to co-workers, complete tasks, and even hold meetings from the comfort of our own homes. There’s a lot of benefit in this in that we are able to be more flexible than ever with where we live, work, and spend our time.
A significant peril in this way of working, however, is the blurring of work-life boundaries. Because our access to work is not limited to a 9-to-5, we feel the pressure and compulsion to be “always-on” and “always available.”
Technology can most definitely help our work-life balance. But if we don’t set careful boundaries, it can hurt us, too. Work can creep into the personal “life” side of the equation, causing greater stress and preventing us from disconnecting — be it on the weekends or while on vacation.
Be honest, how often do you check your work email after hours, or even while on vacation?
As the access to others and work increases, we must be even more diligent in setting our own boundaries and rules on availability.
3) Unrealistic Expectations
The world we see online is not a reflection of reality. Social media of all kinds, even the news and articles we consume are carefully crafted. Even for those who are not “professional” influencers or content creators tend to put out an idealized image of their lives and experiences. We consume content that displays unrealistic standards of living and success, and in many cases, these are a farce.
Children and teens are particularly vulnerable, as their self-esteem is impacted by the people they see. For adults, our idea of wealth and success can become skewed. We too, fall prey to peer pressures. Seeing “perfect” families in beautiful houses makes us feel inadequate — like failures as professionals and parents.
It’s so important to remember that we’re all in the same imperfect boat. What we don’t see are the stresses, the arguments, the frustrations, and the mess.
As we’re spending more and more time on social media, we must be aware of the complexity in the lives of those around us — and that pictures, even words, can never tell the whole story.
While we enjoy the conveniences technology affords us, setting careful boundaries on use and exposure can help us maintain a healthier life, mentally and physically.
How do you see technology use impacting your life? Share in the comments.