We’re surrounded by tech all day, every day. But how much do we know about the different ways that technology affects us? There are some truly damaging side effects to being on your phone or computer all of the time. Even the TV interferes with what our bodies need. Don’t get me wrong: I love my smartphone and can often be found binge watching my favorite show on my smart TV. I’m also grateful for the fact that my laptop allows me to work from home. But I am well aware of how it actually affects me. Maybe there’s something we can do, though…
Several studies have been performed regarding blue light, which is light using blue wavelengths. Blue light is great for the day because it helps boost your mood, attention, and response time. However, it’s doing the same things for you at night – when you should be sleeping (unless you’re a night owl). Some phones have a way to turn on “night mode,” which reduces blue light. But not all phones have this as an option and other screens often don’t have it at all. Luckily, there are these nifty blue light blocking glasses that you can use to counteract the effects of staring at a screen before bed. Otherwise, make sure you’re off of the computer or turn off your TV two to three hours before bed.
Like our brains, the joints in our hands and arms are taking a beating. The number of cases of carpal tunnel syndrome has been increasing, particularly in young adults who spent their childhood with game controllers in hand. Unfortunately, it’s not like we can just swear off technology if we still want to survive in civilization. So what can we do? One solution is to use keyboard and mouse pads with a wrist rest. Having a way to lift our wrists while typing or scrolling as an easy way to minimize the damage.
Finally, with as often as we touch our phones, tablets, and laptops, they are thriving with germs. (To put this into perspective, our phones are typically dirtier than a public toilet seat!) Keep in mind that flu season is upon us. And in this time of COVID-19 running rampant, we need a reliable way to clean our tech pieces so that we’re not spreading everything around. That’s why a UV sanitizer is such a beneficial item. Many double as a charging station but, most importantly, they help clean off our technology so that we can keep using them over and over again while staying healthy.
With as many ways as we utilize technology, we shouldn’t have to worry about it being a bully to our bodies. Let’s take precautions now to keep our bodies safe and healthy throughout this age of tech.
