For parents, the time their children spend in front of smart screens is painful because it passes quickly and is difficult to control. But what about the parents themselves?
Screen addiction in children is a common preoccupation for parents these days. Like any other responsible parent, you may continue to monitor your children's devices to see what they are doing online; you may have blocked websites with adult or inappropriate content on their computers, and you may have set a screen time limit for them. But when it comes to your own screen time, there is no limit, is there, now?
No one is stopping you from watching your favorite TV shows or reading e-books on your smartphone. But before you scold your kids about screen time, reflect on your own habits and ask yourself if you, too, need a screen time limit. If you're honest with yourself, your inner voice might say yes.
How does screen time affect your life?
It's okay to watch your favorite shows, play video games, or text your friends every day. These are perfectly human things, but the amount of time you spend doing these activities is cause for concern.
You've probably read enough articles about why you need to limit your child's screen time, but read on today to find out why you, as a parent, need to limit screen time too. It affects so many aspects of your life that you may not have realized. Here's how it affects you.
1. Your Mental Health – The Road to Depression
TV shows, movies, and social media can easily help you escape or evade real-life problems, but at the same time, they can trick your mind into taking you on a journey into an imaginary world. The sedentary lifestyle that most people live with may make them more susceptible to depression. According to a study, moderate to severe levels of depression were associated with excessive computer and TV time. People who watch TV or use a computer for more than 6 hours a day are more likely to sink into depression than those who don't spend much time in front of these devices.
2. Your physical health
The sedentary lifestyle that most people of this generation lead puts them at risk for many diseases. When you use your phone or computer, or watch TV, you're probably doing so from a chair or couch—and that doesn't do your body any good. Sitting for long hours and not getting any physical activity can put you at risk for health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, and even cancer. Your posture is also affected—you may experience neck pain as a result of constantly looking at your phone.
However, it's never too late to start exercising and making dietary changes. You can do yoga, cardio, Zumba, play outside with your kids, or even walk—do whatever makes you feel good about yourself and live an active lifestyle to prevent disease.
3. Your sleep
The urge to check your WhatsApp messages before bed is tempting, and you give in without much thought. The next thing you know, it's already past midnight, and you're staring at your bedroom ceiling, waiting for sleep to come. But it won't, because the distractions of your phone, especially at night, disrupt your sleep patterns.
The blue light emitted from smartphone screens suppresses the production of melatonin (the hormone that regulates your body's sleep cycle), disrupting your sleep routine. Lack of sleep can leave you feeling sluggish and tired throughout the day, impacting your work and daily routine.
4. Your relationships
Today, many couples post photos of themselves (with intimate captions) on social media, setting or redefining their marriage and family goals. While there's nothing wrong with that, it can take them away from their true relationship goals!
The constant need to check your phone can affect the quantity and quality of your real-life interactions with your partner. Even when you're out with friends at a restaurant, most of them are busy clicking pictures of the food, rather than enjoying the meal itself. You may try to have a real conversation with your spouse and kids, but you'll likely be interrupted by important calls and unimportant notifications, and the people sitting across from you may unwittingly take a back seat in your life. When you're with your family, especially your kids, make sure you give them your full and undivided attention. Notifications may keep popping up, but nothing will take away the good times you spend with your loved ones!
5. Your happiness – the most important and most overlooked
If you’re reading this, then we’re assuming you’ve experienced all four of the above. Let’s get down to it—how can prolonged screen time make you happy if it’s one of the root causes of many of the other issues mentioned above? While we understand you can’t reduce your work-related screen time, what excuse do you have for sticking to screens for entertainment? Whatever free time you have today, which you once spent pursuing your hobbies and doing daily chores, is now spent scrolling through Facebook and Instagram. Without even checking it, you’re wasting a lot of time, and feeling unsafe at the same time. Time spent on social media is like getting empty calories—you might feel excited for a few minutes, but there’s something you might later regret for not having done anything useful. This unhappiness will reflect in your daily life, and the resulting negativity can also affect your family and friends.
In this technology-driven world, you'll likely feel like you're missing out if you're not active on social media. We're not saying you shouldn't be. All we're suggesting is that you set some healthy boundaries for yourself, just as you would for your children, because it's all too easy to lose yourself in the alluring digital world.
Now that we know the “whys,” let’s discuss solutions that can help you achieve your goal of limiting screen time.
solutions
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Take a break at work
– While working, take frequent breaks. Look away from your screens every 20 minutes. Stand up and walk around; fill up your water bottle and use the stairs instead of the elevator. While sitting in your chair, regularly stretch your neck, back, and legs. You can also learn some exercises you can do at your desk.
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Use of technology –
Everything has two sides – positive and negative – and how you view it, or in this case, how you use it, makes all the difference. Smartphones, the internet, and social media may be indispensable to you now, but what about from now on, are you using them forever? Download apps that can act as a means to achieve your goals. You can set alarms on your phone to notify you to take a break. You can download an app to keep track of your to-do list. You can even get apps that help you keep track of the number of calories you consume or the number of steps you take in a day. See, there are so many positive ways you can use your screen time!
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walking while talking on the phone
Instead of sitting and talking on your phone, walk around while having those long conversations with your best friend. This way, you'll stay healthy and maintain your relationships with the people who mean the most to you!
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The Bible
Yes, you can pursue a hobby even if you're in your late twenties or thirties—you never miss out on learning something new. Beyond that, you can also indulge in creative activities with your kids. Try arts and crafts with them, or go outside and have fun. Do something that doesn't remind you of your phone.
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the exercise
You knew this was coming, right? Exercise can help fight depression and insomnia, and it can help you stay fit. It can help you tackle all the problems associated with screen time. Plus, when you're ready to work, you'll hardly be using your phone during that time, and your body will benefit from the exercise, too. So get up and get moving!
Staying away from screens, especially in this digital age, can be difficult, but it's something you must learn to do. Taking breaks from screens is important for leading a healthy and happy life. So, incorporate healthy habits into your life and adieu adieu to screen addiction.
