It seems that lately, we have been spending much more time looking at screens. Whether it’s on our phones, computers, working from home, zoom meetings or others. This can be a consequence of the pandemic situation we have been living in worldwide, but it is also a movement that seems to want to stay as a trend. 

One negative effect of this latest digital change is the exponentially increased screen time we are facing and the secondary effects it can bring. Having too much screen time can cause sleepless nights, increased headaches, anxiety, eye fatigue and more. So let's focus on changing this tendency into something more beneficial for you and your loved ones. 

3 Benefits of Reducing Screen Time

1. Move more! - Keep yourself healthy

Looking at screens for a prolonged amount of time limits our movements and makes us more sedentary, making us susceptible to weight increase our weight and maybe some more underlying health issues in the long run. Take some time off the screen, move your body, pump your blood and connect with the world around you. 

Try something new like pilates online, or head outside and join a boot camp, maybe a new sport where you can join others in an activity. Use the impulse of being outside to take in some fresh air and meet new people in person. 

       2. Improves your Mental health - Reduce stress and anxiety

Excessive screen time can affect your mental wellbeing, showing up as anxiety, depression, or your social relations with those around you, as well as poor emotional stability based on a study published in the NCBI. 

Let’s better enrich those social skills and create more meaningful connections. Reach out to a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, enjoy an outdoors adventure or even a quick stroll around the hood where you might be surprised what you can see and appreciate when you don’t have a screen in front of you. Try something new, maybe a new hobby like some breathing exercises for anxiety. Let yourself be surprised by how good you can feel. 

      3. Get better night sleep - Allow your body and mind to recover 

We put our bodies through great stress when it is not able to recover during sleep. The blue light from digital screen devices can affect our sleep hormones and cycles. This negative effect has been shown to really alter your melatonin levels. 

Create a night routine that doesn’t involve any digital screens for at least 40 minutes before heading to sleep. Turn on your oil diffuser and add just 2-3 drops of a bedroom essential oil blend, do a guided meditation, read a book, connect with your partner, and leave for tomorrow everything else. 

Take it one day at a time, it might be you want to detox from Social Media for 5 days, or just keep an eye on your screen time to reduce the total amount of time spent. Either way, make the changes you need to feel better and enjoy the amazing feeling you will get afterwards. Sometimes success is in the smallest of steps.