Why You Sometimes Need to Ditch Tech to Be Well

Though technology can be used to improve our lives in certain ways, sometimes ditching it is

necessary for our well-being.

We may need time to recover or just time to spend in nature.

Sometimes we just get bored looking at screens, no matter what’s put on them.

Whether you just want some contact with other humans, are hungry or want a break from tech,

there are plenty of healthy and entertaining alternatives.

Even if you aren’t feeling the need to break off, there are some concerns about spending too much

time with tech.

“Just like all good things,

too much technology may even

be bad for our health.”

Between constant blue light exposure, eyestrain, poor posture and maybe even the rare case of

electromagnetic sensitivity, there are many other reasons to get away—at least for a while.

Here are some reasons you should consider taking a break from technology.

Poor Sleep

For the average American, spending a night without some screen-time rarely, if ever happens

anymore.

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have made it easier than ever for us to access

the internet from just about anywhere we go.

Now many of us have the habit of lying down to scroll through blogs or social media before bed,

as well as check our text messages and email.

These sorts of habits can, unfortunately, lead to poor sleep.

“Unplugging, powering down, or covering

items that give off bright light during the

night is a good way to avoid the effects

they can have on your body.”

Exposure to bright lights at night may actually cause a variety of health problems.

Screens and LED displays give off blue light, which is the most detrimental, as do other common

household items such as cable boxes, modern alarm clocks, game consoles and appliances.

Unplugging, powering down, or covering items that give off bright light during the night is a good

way to avoid the effects they can have on your body.

For small display lights such as those on computer monitors and TVs, a piece of tape can be used.

Mobile devices can be stored in a separate room if necessary.

Less Time Spent Outdoors

Even though certain electronics are mobile and can be used on the go, there are many that can’t

and having access to your favorite technology could mean spending the majority of your free

time indoors.

Over time, this can lead to poor health because of a lack of physical activity and sun exposure.

“In order to obtain proper amounts

of vitamin D without supplementation,

you must spend enough time

under the sun.”

It can also boost your mood, prevent infections and spending time outdoors is a great way to

ground yourself as well as interact with others.

For children, it can even prevent them from developing nearsightedness and increase their

critical thinking skills.

Keep in mind that using technology on the go too frequently can also reduce your awareness

of the world around you.

The Need to De-stress

Technology can certainly provide us with joy, entertainment and convenience, but there’s also a

downside to using it too often.

Stressful events can take place online or due to internet use.

Inadvertently oversharing on social media, for example, can sometimes cause conflicts with others

and lead to the intrusion of your privacy.

Internet security threats are also common.

Since modern technology (mainly smart devices) provides new outlets for hackers to access peoples’

personal information, cyber crime is on the rise.

Computers are generally protected with the right software, but often we forget about safeguarding

our mobile devices.

If you happen to become the target of a hacker or even a cyberbully, using internet-enabled devices

can quickly become stressful.

It’s good to take a break from your gadgets every so often to de-stress when or if anything upsetting

occurs on them.

Even electronics that don’t connect to the internet can malfunction and add some extra stress to our

lives, so remember to walk away when you need to recover.

Tech Addiction

You’ve probably seen people texting while driving or looking down at the screen of their smartphone

when they’re walking across the street at least once.

It seems like this is increasingly accepted as the norm as of late, but feeling the need to constantly use

technology could actually be considered an addiction.

If you find yourself checking the internet more often than you should or if you’re spending more time

with your favorite gadgets than you are with your friends and family, ditching tech for a bit is a wise idea.

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the habit of constantly using a gadget.

Some people play video games non-stop or check email, social media pages and text messages every

few minutes.

You may not even realize when you’re overusing technology or what constitutes overuse, so practice

being mindful of how often you’re using your gadgets.

Taking note of every time you use a gadget is a good way to determine whether or not you’re overusing them.

If you tend to check the internet or use any of your non-essential electronics more than once every hour

or two, you might want to consider cutting back.

Muting or disabling certain app notifications on your smartphone may be helpful as well.

“Developing healthier habits when

it comes to the use of gadgets may 

be difficult at first, but worthwhile

in the long-term.”

Technology and Wellness

Overall, ditching technology is sometimes necessary to maintain your well-being.

Whether you have developed a tech addiction like so many of us in the modern world have or have just

been spending too much time indoors surrounded by technology at home or work, taking a break is

never a bad thing.

Developing healthier habits when it comes to the use of gadgets may be difficult at first, but worthwhile

in the long-term.

There’s no need to avoid tech altogether, but understanding how to utilize it in a healthy manner can go

a long way!

About the Author
Caroline is a health and wellness blogger who enjoys sharing tips others can use to promote their own personal well-being. You can read more of her work at ehealthinformer.com

Do you agree that it’s sometimes necessary to ditch tech to be well?

Why or why not?

Let us know in the comments.