Pat_Health&Wellness Tools

Image depicting people socializing in various ways

Before digital social media and the Covid-19 pandemic, we humans used to find ways to interact physically very often, an activity that left us feeling happy and relaxed. However, fast forward to now, research shows we spend an average of 4.5 to 5.7 hours per day on our phones that is with little to no physical interactions, leading to decline in the quality of whatever physical interactions we try to have.

Have you noticed in recent times, while trying to have simple conversations with people even those close to you on social level, they can almost not help looking or using their phones while supposedly speaking with you?

Yes, and these are the impact of too much time on our phones:

1. Decreased conversational quality and depth

2  Reduced enjoyment and engagement

3. Less nonverbal connection

4 Surface-level socializing 

5.Feelings of disconnection

Now, let us look at some potential health and wellness impacts of not socializing physically enough. 

Loneliness: High smartphone and social media use correlate with higher rates of loneliness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, especially among young people from the research by the Columbia University, Physiatry department.

Obesity risk: Lower activity levels from more phone use are linked to higher risks of obesity. Tendency is to binge while on the phone scrolling mindlessly.

Sleep problems: Blue light exposure and nighttime phone use frequently disrupt sleep patterns, causing insomnia, insufficient sleep, and poorer sleep quality.

Musculoskeletal issues: Frequent phone use is connected to neck pain, back pain, “text neck,” eye strain, thumb pain.

Headaches and eye strain: Extended screen time can cause frequent headaches, migraines, and increased eye discomfort.

Visit the Pat_Health&Wellness pages and YouTube Channel for a lot more simple and uncomplicated tips and tools, to support you on your health and wellness journey.

Cheers and live healthy daily!