Keeping yourself healthy and sane amidst the pandemic is paramount, and your screen time will affect your mental health much more than you know.
Why You Need to Take This Seriously
With what's happening around the world where there is a deadly virus that's keeping us from hanging out with our friends and family, the next best thing is to socialize with them online, and that's already a given. But have you ever thought abo just how much screen time you use per day and how it affects your health which you want to take care of granted the coronavirus is not a joke, and any weakness invites catastrophe?
With that said, here are some ways to keep your mental health in check and still retain your sanity and healthy lifestyle in our current situation, which we all feel as one. A quick disclaimer before we proceed, not all may work right away but keep practicing them until you learn to balance, and you will feel the difference in a relatively short amount of time.
Dr. Chetna Kang is a consultant psychiatrist who specializes in technology addiction at the Nightingale Hospital Mental Health Unit. She has a lot on her mind, and all of these are recommended therapy that the good doctor recommends everyone should do.
Do Physical Activities That Don't Require Screen Time
Doing physical activities speaks volumes for your health and will go a long way if done correctly and is applied to your daily routine. From running, jogging, doing yoga, or pilates, working out without the use of looking at your screen for instructions will not only let your eyes take a break from all the low-radiation you might be exposed to but keep your body fit and mentally rested.
Dr. Kang says, "It's mainly because of posture. The way people are using it in bed or sitting on a chair", she then goes on to mention that it's impossible nowadays to think of a life without screens. "They're everywhere, and we need them. They help our lives. Rather than imaging life with no screen at all, steal back sometime and try to keep control."
Find Other Means to Connect
At the start of the article, we mentioned that the reason for more screen time now is because of letting us see our friends and family, but Dr. Kang says that it doesn't always have to be the case. "People don't necessarily feel more connected on a screen." Even a simple phone call will do for them, and it would be easier as well. "We're looking into a camera. And sometimes there's a time lag so we have to be more attentive with listening."
Plan Your Daily Use In Front of The Screen
Dr. Kang has advised to set your time during the day when you need to be in front of the screen or not. "Give yourself a time in the morning before which you won't even touch a screen, It's another way just to spend a bit of time away in the morning."
So instead of using your phone as an alarm clock and the smartphone screen will be the first thing you see at the start of your day, maybe consider going the old-fashioned route and just buy a normal alarm clock that you have to bash to stop from ringing. Old school is still in if you don't know.
