The overuse of phone displays can have several negative effects on one’s mental and physical health. Prolonged computer gazing can cause digital eye strain, which can cause symptoms including headaches, dry eyes and blurred vision. The long amount of time spent in front of screens can cause sleep cycles to be disturbed and overall sleep quality to drop. So let’s take a look at some easy ways to reduce your screen time.
1. Turn off mobile notifications
When your phone rings nonstop from messaging applications and social media sites like Instagram and Snapchat, it might be difficult to relax. You can change your settings to choose which applications you want to get notifications from and how long they stay on the screen, in addition to typically turning on Do Not Disturb or Focus Assist to silence notifications.
2. Find new hobbies
Try reading as a new pastime to pass the time and keep yourself busy. Choose activities that do not require a computer or screen and avoid online courses.
3. Avoid video fatigue
Long periods of looking at a camera can be unpleasant and exhausting. If you spend a lot of time on video calls or virtual meetings, you may get meeting or Zoom fatigue.
4. Adjust your auto-lock setting
Although phone auto-lock features let users choose when their screen locks automatically, they can sometimes lead to statistics about screen time that aren’t true. To ensure accurate screen time data, set it to 30 seconds.
5. Pay attention to your posture
Whether you’re sitting or standing during the day, paying attention to your posture might help ease some of the strain that comes with screen time.
