Continuing with the topic of digital well-being, it is very important that we address the issue of cell phones, since the excessive use of these devices is much more relevant day after day.
Saying that the cell phone is not my friend allows us to begin a reflection on how this tool, which in some way exists to make our lives easier, can easily become a constant distraction and, even more so, can affect our personal relationships and even our mental and physical health.
Why do we say that the cell phone is not a friend? It's simple: excessive cell phone use can cause a type of addiction or dependence, making it difficult to perform other tasks. It can also generate stress and thus age or affect sleep, among many other things.
Since the excessive use of these virtual interaction technologies was implemented, there has been an increase in social isolation, as physical connections between people are gradually lost. Let's remember that we must have physical interactions with other people.
Stress has also increased, as the dependence on constantly checking notifications generates stress and also mental and physical exhaustion. Consequently, the impact on health is potentially evident. Consider vision difficulties, neck and back pain, and sleep disorders.
Perhaps all of this sounds too extreme, but we can look around us to see if we are not victims or slaves to these devices like others who are suffering from this.
How can we begin to create a healthy balance with our cell phone use? The first thing we need to do is set limits. This means defining schedules for not using our cell phones, developing the habit of leaving them away from where we sleep, and, in the case of lunch or the place we eat, keeping them away from our phones. A healthy option is also to turn off constant notifications; this significantly reduces distractions.
You can work on creating different technology-free spaces. For example, you can create a screen-free space where technology is encouraged in some way during family activities and where other activities don't require the use of our cell phones. It's very important to be creative and use different alternatives, whether personal or family-oriented. For example, try reading a book, exercising, spending more time in nature, and focusing on strengthening or creating social relationships.
With all this I want us to be aware that the problem is not the device itself, we must be fully aware that we have to set our own limits and not allow ourselves to be slaves to the attractions that motivate us not to lead a life of "digital well-being."
