Digital wellness is much more than a buzz phrase. Most of us lead constantly connected lives, whether we’re actively using our devices, checking them several dozen times an hour, or keeping them close by, as we wait for notifications.
According to the Pew Research Center, 31% of adults — and 44% of those between the ages of 18 and 49 — are online almost constantly, while 85% of adults go online daily and 48% go online several times every day.
Some of what we experience through our devices is overwhelmingly positive — practical, educational, fun. There were several benefits of easily accessible tech use during the pandemic, when many people shifted to working from home, remote learning, accessing care through telehealth, and limiting in-person activities. At the same time, there can be disadvantages from the expectation of always being available, inescapable reliance on tech, and exposure to negative online experiences.
What are the pitfalls of not taking care of your digital wellness?
According to a recent Gallup poll, about 67% of adult workers said being “always on” had a significant negative impact on their health and wellbeing. The same amount experienced burnout, citing perpetual connectivity as cheating them out of the necessary time to recharge.
You can start to improve your digital wellness today with these tips.
Choose what you view – where you visit and what you see. If it doesn’t make you smile, excite you, or inspire you, you can choose to unfollow or mute it.
Remember that what you see is not always reality, whether it’s filtered, cropped, altered, or staged. A recent study showed that only 29% of people post photos without altering them.
Read more on Thrive Global: 6 Tips to Improve Your Digital Wellness — Discover how to optimize a healthy approach to tech use, because it’s time for you to take control of your digital wellness to positively affect your happiness, your health, and your wellbeing.
For cutting-edge behavior change technology and tools that help people live and work with less stress, more productivity, and greater well-being, visit Thrive Global.
Living an optimal life is possible, and you can take the necessary steps to thrive professionally, personally, physically, spiritually, financially, and in any area that is important to you with scientifically proven simple steps to achieve goals and create sustainable change.
Check out my first post on Thrive Global: Upgrade Your Gratitude Practice — Increase your happiness and wellbeing in one to two minutes a day. You’ll discover how to combine the benefits of practicing gratitude, priming your environment, and creating positive surroundings.
Photo: FIZKES