Today, many students use electronic devices for educational purposes. On one hand, learning from newer technology can have many advantages, but frequent use of devices can also affect your health negatively. Here are some ways in which you can use devices most healthily:
To start, looking down at a screen for long periods can lead to neck and back pain. The main cause of this is wrong posture and wrong neck position. To minimize this, you will want to ensure proper sitting posture at the computer as well as take screen breaks by allowing yourself to walk around, stand up, or stretch. Furthermore, instead of holding your phone in your lap, you can help avoid neck problems by holding it out in front of you. Positioning the device so it is in front of your face, with your head sitting squarely on your shoulders, is helpful to your neck.
Another problem is digital eye strain, sometimes called Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS). It is one of the most commonly reported symptoms of too much screen time. In fact, a study from the American Refractive Surgery Council suggested that over 60% of Americans were affected by it.
Some ways to aid this symptom are to wear blue light glasses, get regular eye checkups, and reduce overhead lighting to minimize screen glare.
Last but not least, using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone shortly before going to bed can affect your ability to fall asleep. This is because the blue light from devices can lead to heightened alertness and disrupt your body clock. To avoid that, establish a bedtime routine that does not involve screens. Doing so will help create a relaxing environment before sleep.
For instance, read a book instead of scrolling through TikTok since reading a book is more likely to calm you than scrolling through social media platforms.
By following these steps, you might find yourself feeling better. Remember to listen to your body: whenever you are suffering from a severe headache, turn the devices off. Homework and entertainment often can wait, but your health cannot!