According to a Nielsen study, American adults spend nearly 11 hours a day on average staring at a screen. This can cause many problems for individuals.
Side effects of too much screen time include:
- Diminished cognitive functioning;
- Impaired vision and headaches;
- Poor sleep quality; and
- Increased risk of heart disease and obesity.
Staring at a screen too often can lead to a serious screen addiction. Signs of a severe screen addiction include:
- Severe depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as emerging mental health disorders;
- Stressed or fractured relationships with friends and family members;
- Eating disorders and sleeping disorders;
- Erratic and disorganized behavior; and
- Growing inability to focus on or complete tasks.
Actions you can take to prevent screen addiction include:
- Implement distraction-free times;
- Take a real lunch break away from your desk and computer;
- Use apps that block out distracting sites as well as apps that notify you when it’s time to take a break from looking at your screen; and
- Host device-free meetings as work.
For more information on how screen time can affect your health, visit HR Daily Advisor.
Sources: HR Daily Advisor