Technology has taken up residency in every aspect of our lives, changing how, where, when and with whom we work, communicate, socialize, conduct business, date, recreate and how we access goods and services. But is this change good for us?
Our bodies and our mental and spiritual well-being were designed to survive and thrive in a real world. A world of tall trees, wide open spaces, fresh air and sunlight, not a digital world that ties us to desks, electronics, the light that radiates from digital screens while we scroll through our virtual lives, rather than strolling through the forest.
According to the 2016 Canadians at Work and Home Survey, the number of 55+ Canadians actively connected in the digital world has steadily increased. It indicates that 91 per cent of Canadian adults use the internet on a regular basis. Most notably, among 65- to 74-year-olds, internet use increased from 65 to 81 per cent between 2013-2016. Those aged 75 and older increased their usage from 35 to 50 per cent during that same period.
The survey also showed that 90 per cent of adults owned two or more digital devices, including smartphones, laptops, notebooks, tablets, e-readers or a desktop computer.
So how much time are we spending on our devices? And, what impact is this having on us?
Reports by both York University and the University of Pennsylvania indicate that the average North American adult spends 11-13 hours a day in front of technology screens.
I wanted to know how I stacked up against the average, so I tracked my usage for a week. I was surprised I had been behind a screen an average of 10.5 hours a day. This daily average includes work I do from home.
Research reported by several health organizations suggests that our increased screen time has lead to eye strain, headaches, back and neck problems, weight gain, depression, attention span decrease, negatively impacts our quality of sleep, leads to poor eating habits, and weakens our social bonds. Several studies also show that spending significant time in front of screens lowers cardiovascular health and increases our mortality risk.
We’re becoming disconnected from our natural state and spending more hours indoors, plugged into an artificial world. Virtual reality, online dating, social media, online banking and shopping, online learning and gaming and more, have become our new normal. Almost every aspect of our life is accessible online. Some of these services are essential and easy to access, especially for older Canadians, but they are pulling us away from physical connections with nature and one another.
So, I decided to do a technology detox and power down my social media and online use. This meant no Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, WordPress or Twitter. I reduced my screen time on various online apps and made a conscious effort to stay off the internet when I could for six weeks. I did allow myself periods of time to review and respond to messages.
Did I cheat on my technology detox? Yes, I did. It took me a few days – okay, a full week – to stop checking social media and the various news feeds and applications I subscribe to – worried I might be missing out on something. A phenomenon known as FOMO (fear of missing out).
According to the World Health Organization, digital addiction is a growing problem. We have become accustomed to a certain volume of noise, images, news, advertising and other information flowing to us digitally, causing a compulsion to check our devices constantly.
In the first week of my technology detox, I was still lugging my phone with me everywhere. I say lugging because that’s exactly what we do. We carry the weight of the world and our responsibilities with us wherever we go, including to dinner, on dates and even to the bathroom (oh yes, you do) for fear that we’re missing out.
When we do this, we’re dragging the problems of the world and life with us – literally – in the palm of our hand. We don’t allow ourselves time to think or just “be.” We surrender our serenity for the rings and pings of incoming messages and alerts because we have created a societal expectation of instant availability.
Our compulsion to remain plugged in also creates unrealistic workplace expectations, including the expectation that we are constantly available.
Part way through the second week of my detox, I was able to park my phone when I walked my dogs, went to the pool or the store. Did the world collapse? Well, yes, horrible things continued to unfold around the globe, but there was nothing I could do about them.
While it’s important to stay informed and create awareness of world affairs, a constant stream of dismal messaging into our brains makes us feel hopeless, instead of hopeful, about the world – and life.
We also inhibit ourselves from acting related to the world’s problems, if we’re constantly on our devices, watching things unfold rather than getting out there and doing something about it.
I started to realize that while it’s convenient having my smartphone in my back pocket; it’s also a disruption and a distraction from being present. If I’ve committed time to someone, I want to be fully present and not checking messages and answering my phone.
As I need my computer and phone for work, I was not able to completely power down, but I did cut my screen time to about five-to-seven hours per day by the end of week two.
During week two, I also powered down my TV time. That was a lot easier than I thought. And, by the end of week three, I had reduced my screen time to three-to-five hours a day – and that’s when things started to shift.
- The noise in my head had softened.
- I was sleeping better.
- I became more diligent with my morning exercise and meditation routines.
- I was reading more hard copy content.
- And, the snacks in my junk food drawer had gone stale as I wasn’t snackin’ and scrollin’ (referred to as S and S in the digital world).
- I become aware of how much free time I had, and how much unproductive time I had been spending on my iPhone, iPad and computer, checking social media, news feeds and data mining the internet.
- People started reaching out to connect in person. I enjoyed more “healthy” lunches, dinners and walking dates with family and friends that may not have happened, if I had been accessible online.
- I was spending more time outside and started to feel happier, and I’m already a happy, upbeat person.
By the fourth week, I was liberated. I didn’t feel a need to check my social media feeds or messages because people weren’t expecting me to.
I improved my overall mental well-being and felt more focused and present when doing most things. And those health issues referenced by several organizations (eye strain, headaches, back and neck problems, etc.), all saw improvements.
As I was spending more time outside, I became more physically active. I walked more; played with my pets more often, which is always good therapy, and I had no compulsion to restock the snack drawer.
It’s no secret that exposure to nature contributes to our emotional and physical well-being, reduces blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and reduces the production of stress hormones. So, getting off-line and getting outside was good for my health – and will be good for yours, too.
Technology is not going away and, in fact, I don’t want it to. I like the ease at which I can find things on the internet. I enjoy my social media feeds and I’m grateful for the people I’ve been able to reconnect and stay in touch with through social media.
Some studies show that participating in social media and other online activities helps manage social isolation for some people, if it’s balanced with real time social interaction.
I also enjoy the various apps I use to help me manage my life. But, as my creative and sage father used to say, “all things in moderation.”
I believe it’s incumbent on our generation – the ones that lived our youth in the wonder and wild of the great outdoors – to help young people today unplug and connect with things they don’t even know they’re missing.
If we do, it will be good for all of us.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written long before we knew of Covid-19. In our current situation, we can be grateful technology is keeping us connected to our loved ones and communities. Still, be sure to take a break from tech to enjoy some fresh air and exercise. When life resumes, do it with a friend!
More information on research and reports related to the affects of too much screen time:
- Study by York University, Faculty of Health
- University of Pennsylvania and published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology – https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/social-media-use-increases-depression-and-loneliness
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