Author: Eric Jiang
Editors: Ken Saito
Artist: Tiffany Chen
Throughout the spread of Covid-19, online schooling and remote working has become a commonality for people around the world. Although this practice effectively lowers the risk of infection, individuals must realize how their health will be affected when spending significant amounts of time on a computer screen.
In a blog from Reid Health, the average screen time for adults reported an increase from 11 to 19 hours per day during the pandemic. Clearly, technology has become a double-edged sword during the pandemic. While protected from the virus, many people are suffering the adverse effects of this increased screen time.
If you find yourself having trouble sleeping during the pandemic, there’s a high chance that it is a result of prolonged use of technology. Whether it’s because of work or entertainment, your brain is pleading you to stay away from the screen and give it time to rest. Since the light from the screen signals the brain to stay awake, a constant input throughout the day can make it difficult to unwind at night.
Though many argue that they don’t have enough time to fix this problem, there are some solutions that aren’t as time-consuming as they may seem. Try to take a step outside and exercise for a while as your eyes begin to tire. This single action could solve several issues at once. Neck, shoulders, and back pains can be prevented as well as eye strain and headaches from staring at screens for too long. Exercising is a vital activity to ensure your body remains healthy, and you could take it as entertainment free from screens. Reduced physical activity is already a pervading problem during the pandemic.
What’s a healthy amount of screen time, then? As recommended by experts, adults should limit screen time outside of work to less than two hours per day. This is the time for you to stay away from screens, not all forms of entertainment. Reading books, playing sports and card games, talking with families, and hanging out with friends, are all wonderful ways to stay entertained without the use of any screens.
While technology today is nearly essential, it is our own responsibility to stay within the borderline to prevent damage to our own health. Just spend a few hours from the screen, and you may find yourself a new interest more meaningful than what’s on a computer.
Citations::
"How Much Screen Time is Too Much for Adults?" Reid Health, www.reidhealth.org/blog/screen-
time-for-adults