Cooperative Living August 2017 - 22

HealthyTake
Cutting the Digital Leash
I
t's the time of year when many of us
leave home to enjoy a vacation. Getting
out of the office and going somewhere
different not only allows us to spend
quality time with family and friends,
but also recharges our mental batteries.
The phase " get away from it all " has
taken on new significance in this
digital age, as technology gives us the
power to check email or social media
any time day or night. More people are
becoming aware of the perils of our
fixation on technological gadgets, and
some have even started putting limits
on themselves regarding their technology
use while off work.
So, as you head off to the beach,
mountains or other exciting destinations,
consider these health benefits of putting
your smartphone on " airplane mode "
for a few hours, limiting how much you
" surf " the web:
* Stress Recovery: Researchers at Kansas
State University have found that we
really do need down time after work to
mentally recharge for the next day.
Continuing to communicate with
colleagues after hours can create stress
and prevent your brain from relaxing
and recouping from a long work day in
preparation for the next.
* Multitasking Doesn't Work: Toggling
back and forth between emails, reports
and preparations for your kid's school
recital isn't a smart thing to do whether
you're at work or at home. A new study
shows that people who rate themselves
as the best multitaskers tend to be
greater risk takers and are more
impulsive overall. We all know on some
level that doing five things at once
instead of focusing on one is not the
best way. If you're a parent, you know
that composing an email on your phone
and cooking dinner or playing with
your kid at the same time doesn't make
you very good at any of the tasks you're
doing. So, even if you're just on a
" staycation, " take a break from
technology to enjoy more peaceful
evening hours at home.
20 | Cooperative Living | August 2017
Get Away
from
It All
Consider these health benefits of limiting how much you 'surf' the web.
*
Instead of stealing glances
at our phones when we're
in the company of our
family and friends, maybe
we should focus on the
present company.
* Internet Use Disorder, Anyone?
Recent studies suggest that the
frequency with which people check
their social media-providing gadgets is
just the right amount to get the brain's
addiction centers engaged. The internet
may be the newest " substance " to be a
candidate for a mental health disorder,
and who doesn't get a feeling of
satisfaction at seeing lots of " likes "
on your Facebook post or a rush at
the sight of a Twitter mention? Other
studies have hinted at changes in the
brains of people who are hooked on
the internet. Whether internet addiction
should be classified as a real mental
health disorder is still being debated,
but if you're feeling the pull as many
of us are, perhaps calling it quits for
a few hours in the evening before your
amusement becomes an obsession is
a good idea.
Sleep Disorders and Other
Psychological Problems: Last year a
Swedish study found that young people
who used technology heavily had a
pronounced risk for mental health
problems such as depression, stress and
sleep disorders. Other research has
suggested that social media does not
have its intended effect of drawing us
together, and instead can make us feel
lonely, jaded, jealous or otherwise
mentally unhealthy. " Regularly using a
computer late at night is associated not
only with sleep disorders, but also with
stress and depressive symptoms in both
men and women, " said author Sara
Thomée. Additional research found that
the light put off by tablet computers
itself may be linked to reduced
serotonin levels after two hours of use.
Since serotonin is known as the " sleep
hormone, " reduced levels might have
the effect of messing with your sleep.
All of these triggers, social and physical,
may be taking a toll on our
psychological well-being.
* Social Skills: Another interesting
study found that when people used
cellphones they were less likely to be
good to others, or to display " prosocial
behavior, " directly afterwards.
Specifically, the participants were
less likely to welcome volunteer
opportunities, and they were even
less good at solving word problems
whose correct answers would provide
money to charity.
The bottom line? We'll benefit our
health by giving technology a rest when
we're able. Instead of stealing glances at
our phones when we're in the company
of our family and friends, maybe we
should focus on the present company.
Setting aside a couple hours after work
to disconnect from all our devices will
probably do volumes for our mental health
and the mental health of those around us.
Are you ready to cut the digital leash -
or have you done so already? 
Source: www.webmd.com
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Cooperative Living August 2017

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