The landscape of human health has been dramatically reshaped in the wake of the 21st century’s countless advancements. The 21st century has gifted us with remarkable advancements: instant global communication, medical innovations, nutritional convenience, unprecedented access to information, and much more. Despite all these wonders, it’s becoming harder than ever to overlook their adverse effects on our physical and mental well-being.
In this article, we’ll be exploring three facets of modern living that most impact our health: unchecked screen time, the unique health challenges posed by our modern lifestyle, and relationships in the digital age.
Build a More Balanced Life with Digital Wellness
The American Optometric Association found that over 104 million American adults spend over seven hours in front of screens per day, leading to $151 billion in health, wellness, and productivity costs in 2023. These figures encompass eye strain, sleep disruptions, mental health costs, and more.
To build a healthier relationship with screens and maximize their plus sides while mitigating the drawbacks, we urge constructing a more balanced relationship with devices. A few major topics to help you get started include mindful social media usage, digital detoxing, and screen time management.
Mindful Social Media Usage
Social media warps our view of reality, causing a fear of missing out (FOMO), unrealistic body standards that can drastically impact body image, and comparison anxiety. Fight these by limiting screen time and curating social media apps to prioritize positive content. Lastly, actively ask yourself whether the content you consume is making you feel better or worse.
Digital Detoxing
Let’s not forget that devices are meant to enhance your life and not become your life. To remedy burnout, impaired sleep, and negative mental health caused by constant connectivity, schedule stretches of time where you can disconnect and detox. Start by eating meals without your phone, taking short walks without it, or visiting nature to mentally reset and refresh.
Screen Time Management
Too much screen time can harm your eyesight, posture, sleep, and more. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling often, consider limiting your screen time. Use apps or in-app tools that limit your usage, establish no-screen zones, and take breaks every 15-20 minutes. Try making bedtime and dinnertime screenless so you can rekindle relationships while minimizing adverse screen effects.
Taking Care of Your Health in the 21st Century
Our technologically-enabled lifestyles have fundamentally changed how we live and work. Convenience and efficiency have skyrocketed, but so have new health problems that didn’t affect previous generations. From sedentary lifestyles, fast food, and a growing awareness of mental health, it’s up to us as individuals to monitor and address these new obstacles in our lives.
To learn more about how these issues affect you and how to effectively mitigate them, explore some practical strategies you can start using today.
Combating Sedentary Lifestyles
Studies have found that sedentary lifestyles due to commutes and long hours in front of a desk increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular conditions, metabolic disorders, and all-cause mortality. For work that involves long hours of sitting, try a standing desk or taking breaks to walk around. Posture is vital too – ensure your screen is at eye level and that your back is straight while sitting to minimize back problems.
Nutrition in the Age of Fast Food
Fast food and processed meals are quick but packed with imbalance, leading to poor diets and health issues like obesity. Small, consistent changes in your eating habits can improve your overall health – meal plan when possible, stay hydrated, and buy fresh foods like organic produce and meats rather than prepackaged or fast food.
Managing Stress & Mental Health
Studies have found that lack of exercise and media overload in modern lifestyles increases stress as well as the chances of developing depression or other mental disorders. Take care of your mental health by instituting strict boundaries between work and home to create work-life balance, make sure you get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, and take breaks to meditate or do deep breathing exercises that can relieve stress.
Improving Relationships in the Digital Age
Instant messaging, social media, and video communication have expanded our ability to connect, but paradoxically limit our ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships. Superficial digital interaction simply doesn’t satisfy our innate human need to interact with others in real life, leading to feelings of isolation, worsening social skills, and a decline in empathy.
We suggest making a few important changes to the way you use technology to engage with others in your life – explore a few life-changing strategies to try below.
- Balancing Digital & Face-to-Face Interactions: Set aside time for in-person meetings with loved ones while enforcing a no-screen policy for social gatherings. Strive for deeper, more personal conversations during online conversations rather than exchanging memes or other low-effort communications.
- Engage with Empathy: Practice mindfulness with your online interactions by reminding yourself that everyone you talk to online is a real person with their own feelings, hopes, dreams, fears, and aspirations just like you.
- Get Involved with Group Activities: Expand your social circle by seeking out communal activities like sports, book clubs, library events, or gardening initiatives. The activity isn’t what’s important – what really matters is that you’re engaging with others in real life while doing something you enjoy.
Final Thoughts
Information overload, sedentary lifestyles, and increasingly superficial relationships are just a few issues created by modern culture. The key to solving these and thriving lies in conscious choices and balance. By implementing digital detox strategies, fostering meaningful connections both online and offline, and prioritizing both physical activity and nutrition, we can mitigate the negative impacts of modern living while making the most of what it has to offer.
Photo Credit
Photo is from Pixabay
Guest Author Bio
Charlie Fletcher
Charlie Fletcher is a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. When not writing she spends her time doodling and embroidering. And yes, she does love all kinds of potatoes!
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