How Screen Time Affects Your Health & What You Can Do About It

Most parents are concerned with the amount of time their children spend on screens, but the average adult spends 11 hours per day on a screen of some sort. All of this technology can be a life-saver in business and productivity, but unfortunately, it’s not so good for your health. Some negative effects of too much screen time are:

• Weight gain: more time in front of a screen translates into less physical activity
• Depression: significant time spent watching TV or playing videos games correlates to higher depression rates
•  Vision problems: this can include blurred vision, headaches, and dry, strained eyes
• Sleep disruption: the blue light emitted from cell phones and computers hinders melatonin production, the hormone necessary to help you fall asleep
• Other health conditions: screen time can even increase the likelihood of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer

What you can do about how screen time affects your health

In this digital age, not one is asking you to give up screens entirely. Most people need to use an electronic device for work or school, staying in touch with friends and family, or simply for entertainment. The key here is being conscious of your screen time usage and practicing moderation. Here are some tips for healthier screen time habits:

• Use the settings on your phone to set limits on certain apps or on phone usage overall
• Schedule quality time with your family and friends
• Make time for exercise
• Turn off all screens at least 30 minutes before bedtime
• Seek help if you are experiencing depression
• Take breaks from sitting at your computer at least every hour

When you start paying closer attention to your screen time habits, you will be able to change how screen time affects your health.

Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group cares about how screen time affects your health

At Colorado Springs Orthopaedic Group, we provide a holistic care model. How you spend your time each day affects your physical health as well as your mental health. If you are experiencing negative effects from excessive cell phone usage, check out our article on how to prevent smartphone hand pain. Our specialists are also available to help if you are feeling pain in your back, legs, or joints due to sitting for long periods of time in front of a screen. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!