[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Your smartphone now doubles as a camera and your laptop weighs half as much as it used to three years ago. Technology has advanced to improve productivity and also portability thus, increasing the quantity and quality of work done.
However, with these great innovations, there are also adverse effects. Here’re a few things to know about how technology can affect us physically and mentally as well.
Reference: Bustle.com; Digital responsibility.org; Livestrong.com; Sleep.org; The Inquirer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_hoverbox image=”1585″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]Tech neck is a condition which stems from looking down at your phone or laptop. Symptoms include soreness in the neck, headache, or numbness and tingling every day or weekly. This can be remedied by practising yoga, neck extensions and also looking at your gadgets at eye level to prevent strain.[/vc_hoverbox][vc_hoverbox image=”1586″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]Computer Vision Syndrome is characterised by eye strain, blurred vision and dry eyes due to prolonged screen time. Looking at a screen for a long time leads to less blinking which means the eyes will dry out. Do keep some eye drops on your workstation to give your eyes a refresher. Additionally, take a ‘20–20’ break from your screen every 20 minutes for 20 seconds. Drink some water or just look out the window and rest your eyes and mind.[/vc_hoverbox][vc_hoverbox image=”1587″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]A common issue with laptop users is how they usually hunch over to look at the screen. This creates more strain on the muscles and ligaments of the head and neck, resulting in soreness and stiffness. If you need to use your laptop for long periods of time, elevate it with books or get a stand until it is at eye level. Additionally, do some simple exercises every 30 or so minutes to prevent any soreness or stiffness.[/vc_hoverbox][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_hoverbox image=”1588″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]Increased screen time means an increase in time being sedentary. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to problems such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and more. Carving out 30 minutes a day to do some moderate exercise can help decrease these risks by one third.[/vc_hoverbox][vc_hoverbox image=”1589″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]If you’re always plugged into your earbuds, you may suffer from hearing loss or tinnitus where there’s ringing in your ears. This is due to listening to loud music which damages the hair cells in your inner ear which won’t regenerate once they die. If other people can hear your music while you’re wearing your headphones or earbuds, it’s time to turn it down.[/vc_hoverbox][vc_hoverbox image=”1590″ primary_title=”” hover_title=””]Blue light from screens can suppress melatonin, a hormone that helps us sleep. This makes it harder for us to fall and stay asleep. Lack of sleep can lead to problems like irritability, being distracted at work and fatigue which could be very dangerous especially when driving. Take a 30 minute break from any and all of your electronics before bedtime and try to make your bedroom an electronics free room to help you get a good night’s sleep.[/vc_hoverbox][/vc_column][/vc_row]
