Know this now before it’s too late!
This is arguable, but it can be said that life today is much easier than it was 50 years ago. Communication is easier, news (whether good or bad, real or fake) travels quicker and there are millions of games, movies and music available at our fingertips. So thanks, technology!
But with all that efficiency that technology provides us, it definitely has its bad side too. After all, too much of one thing can be a bad thing.
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Let’s get physical
Spinal Strain
Research argues that even checking a notification on our smartphones can put some serious strain to our spinal cords. In fact, New York spine surgeon Kenneth Hansraj has found that tilting our heads just 60 degrees puts as much as 60 pounds of pressure on our necks. And looking at a computer all day? Legit damages your posture.
Bacteria Spread
What do the bathroom, bedroom and bus all have in common (other than the same starting letter)? Us, bringing our phones to them. Gadgets pick up everything from germs to bacteria and our holding them only exposes us to these less-than-beautiful items. The result can be anything from acne outbreaks to full-on sicknesses.
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Hearing Loss
Music is a big part of most of our lives, but just because we love it doesn’t mean we need it shouting at our ears. Noise exposure can cause permanent hearing loss, so listening to anything at a high decibel is a big no-no.
Eye Pain
Too much contact with any screen—whether from television, smartphone, computers or tablets—will exhaust your sight. This can lead to blurry vision, dry eyes or even migraines. And you were wondering why you’ve been needing to find time to just shut your eyes in the middle of the day.
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Going mental
Stress, Anxiety and Forgetfulness
Google might as well be a godsend, but studies have shown that continuous use of the search engine actually helps build stress, anxiety and even forgetfulness.
We wake up in the morning to see email notifications between text messages and daily reminders, so it’s really no wonder why our stress levels go haywire even before we have the chance to brush our teeth. Likewise, googling symptoms and consumer prices make us anxious AF. And when was the last time you had to memorize someone’s number or read an actual map to get somewhere? Information at our fingertips might keep us on the right bath, but it sure is making our brains lazy and forgetful.
Loneliness
At the rate we check our multiple social media accounts, we oftentimes can help but feel a little lonely. Seeing someone else’s activity can lead us to feel inferior. On the other hand, research has claimed that lonely people log onto Facebook more and more. So this never-ending cycle is actually a spiral down—and you do not want to get caught at the end of it.
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Lack of Sleep
Our phone and television screens might project amazing images, but there’s something about the light that causes our sleep cycles to go a little crazy. You can’t help it in the daytime when work has punishing requirements, but try to have at least 30 minutes away from it before you hit the hay.
But it doesn’t stop there; we have to keep our smartphones a good distance away too. See, some researchers have claimed that having gadgets near us also causes us to be on high alert for possible notifications, which keeps sleep at bay.
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Anything can be consumed in moderation, but nothing should be used 24/7. Make sure to take breaks away from your gadgets. Take a walk, close your eyes and just breathe a little—your body and your mind will thank you later.
Art Alexandra Lara
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