Smartphones are making us dumb.
Computers are ruining our eyes.
Facebook has made everyone go crazy.
Chances are you've (before that/before now) met the statements listed above, or some difference/different version of these anti-technology cautions.
Over the past ten years, (existing all over a large area) internet computer programs have changed almost every aspect of our lives, from how we work to how we communicate. With most adult Americans carrying a handheld computer around in their back pocket, digital usage has very quickly risen very high.
Recent surveys showed/told about that if current (popular things/general ways things are going) continue, the average person will spend five years of their life scrolling social media apps (FIVE years?!!!).
That's a lot of posting, sharing, tweeting, and snapping!
The Internet has (suddenly entered a place in an unwanted way) (almost) everything we do.
Social media and the Internet has changed the way we do almost everything, including:
More doing two or more things at once
Political (series of actions to reach goals) are won (or lost) online
No such things as "dead time"
Completely average people are now famous people (social influencers)
We became our own doctors
Watches have little purpose
It's really easy to cheat on trivia
We sleep, work, talk with people, party, and relax LESS
But the internet's not all bad...easy of access to information has presented a large number of giving power to/permitting experiences to many (before that/before now) left out/kept out (groups of people/animals/things).
Thanks to the internet, many (not the way things usually look/not the way things are usually done) students can chase after their education, work from home opportunities are becoming more and more plentiful, tech-driven industry inventions of new things presented increased creative (with business) opportunities, users find it easier to maintain distance relationships with family and friends, and events such as our nation's latest natural disaster can easily connect with kind fights for and (people who give money or other things) through online channels.
Social media is affecting our health.
While the (related to computers and science) Age has brought in a variety of opportunities, such as equal access to education and person (who takes care of someone)-friendly remote positions, our culture's over-reliance on electronic devices presents (more than two, but not a lot of) concerning health problems, such as:
Muscle and bone pain
Vision problems
Physical injuries, such as tech neck and carpal tunnel disease
Decreased mental health, including, but not limited to: fear and stress, depression, loneliness, and stress.
As a marketing consultant, I spend a lot of time online, so (stories designed to warn people of something) (related to/looking at/thinking about) frequent device usage makes me pay attention, as I hope to enjoy a long working life, not slowed down by preventable health conditions. Given that my work literally revolves around the digital world, unplugging forever isn't really an option if I'd like to continue to pay my bills, so I've been experimenting with a few work hacks to boost working well and getting a lot done and improve my overall health.
Here are a few (success plans/ways of reaching goals) I've put into use to help my prevent the negative effects of high internet use while making the most of both my physical and mental health:
Take Frequent Work Breaks
The Mayo Clinic recent stated that "sitting is the new smoking", and it's no surprise that Americans have become more and more (sitting a lot) throughout the coming into view of the Tech Age. Everything from average weight gain to decrease gripped strength has been noted as an effect of increased technology use, and as our (community of people/all good people in the world) becomes more and more dependent upon digital devices, our health continues to (lower in number/get worse).
A few things I do to offset the negative health effects of extended tech-use is scheduling frequent breaks (every 45 to 50 minutes), keep track of my device use (no dumb/careless scrolling), and have (not very long ago) invested in a standing desk (love!) and (changed to make better/changed to fit new conditions) my screen and keyboard height in a way that is more ergometrically suited to my height. These small changes have already made a big difference - no more office bod!
Click here to learn more about my standing desk (instance of buying something for money).
Unplug from Social Media on a Regular Basis
Last year, I shared a described/explained trip account from my very first digital detox. Unplugging from my tech devices for (more than two, but not a lot of) days at first scared (very much) me (the majority of my income comes from online talking to) and I almost backed out of my scheduled detox at least twelve times.
I feared my company would have a complete meltdown without me constantly watching/supervising ALL social (reports on news web sites) (it didn't).
I was afraid I'd miss some digital marketing breaking news (related to/looking at/thinking about) an app feature change that would instantly think of/consider me and my marketing skills completely no longer useful/no longer used (it didn't).
I wondered if leaving alone (and forgetting) my inbox for 72 hours would mean missing the opportunity of a lifetime (again, it didn't).
Unplugging from the online world ended up being such a great thing that I started scheduling a digital detox every few weeks. Today, I look forward to them and always return refreshed with (showing the ability to create interesting new things) juices flowing confident and bold from endless social media attack of unrelated/unimportant noise. I recommend everyone think about/believe scheduling an internet fast for at least 24 hours once a week. It's amazing!
Put in order of importance IRL Activities
Social media's really done some in-real-life (IRL) social events. Instead of planning community events or scheduling neighborhood dinners, many people spend that time scrolling social feeds and stalking their old high school flames on Facebook. While social media can have many great benefits for relationships, like staying connected with out-of-state relatives and working together with telecommuting fellow workers, it all-too-often changes (and gets better) into a substitute for face-to-face interactions.
Not good.
Yes, it's easier to simply log on to social media, tweet a few disrespectful things, "Like" a couple pictures and tell yourself that you're connecting than actually plan a social event with other people IRL; however, it doesn't offer the same bonding experience that we all need.
This year, I'm putting in order of importance IRL interactions (at least one face-to-face, nonwork social event a week) and so far, it's really helped balance things out, plus helped developed some awesome friendships.
Stop Comparing Yourself
Everything you see online, especially on social media, is collected. It's not the whole picture. It's the desired message. It's "packed" and "spun" in the best, or very (created unfair thinking in)/(unfair-thinking), light to serve the creator's purpose (get Likes, make very angry their neighbors, drive sales, spark jealousy, (help increase/show in a good way) a brand, etc.). It's not really goal, and most of the time, it's not a really (very close to the truth or true number) showing/representation of what's really going on.
When we forget that online content is collected, it can be easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to the steady attack of "my-life-is-so-freakin-awesome" and "yours-would-be-too-if-you-bought-my-stuff" posts, our joy can totally disappear. And that's never good.
Recognize that what you see online is, well, packaged in the best light for online response.
If it's a brand or organization, chances are they hired someone like me to (help increase/show in a good way) their stuff. If it's a (person who is in a similar age group or academic field), chances are they aren't posting all the crap that happened leading up to that amazing Cabo vacation (like maxing out their credit card to swing the trip).
And that's natural - we want to put our best foot forward. Just don't fall into the cycle of endless social media comparison. It's not healthy for anyone.
What are your staying-healthy social media (success plans/ways of reaching goals)?
Share in the comment below!