I’ll admit it, and I probably won’t be the primary, but our phones appear to be growing right into a moderately big problem. There, I said. Now, before you scroll on to the following article and I lose your attention, hold tight for only a moment.
I’d enterprise to say you’re reading this on a tiny little screen that’s snuggly tucked within the palm of your hand. You’ve been looking down for quite a while. Your neck and shoulders ache a bit, but you roll them around occasionally and proceed on. Maybe Facebook or one other site led you here on this little treasure hunt of perfectly placed ads, news, or articles, practically targeting and capturing your attention.
Yep, you’re not alone. We’re all in the identical boat, fighting the urge to place the phone down but continually grabbing for it since it’s what we’ve grown accustomed to. Well, I don’t find out about you, but I’m ready for a change!
Fellow believers, we want to call attention to this issue and make some healthy adjustments. I speak for myself here as well! If you’ve made it with me this far, then I feel you possibly can finish this text and find it not only insightful but truly helpful. So, stick with me, and skim on!
What is Happening?
As an 80’s kid who grew up playing outside until the streetlights got here on, I can attest that the times we reside in are…how do I say it? Scientific and futuristic, perhaps. Would you agree? I do know I can’t be the just one who seems like we reside in a weird version of the Twilight Zone! If you’ve got no idea what I’m talking about, just Google it. Sadly, I’m somewhat sharing my age here with this information, but perhaps that’s the reason I find this topic so invaluable.
All that to say, it begs the query: How did we get here? How did we come to a spot where we’re essentially walking zombies with our heads stuck in a phone, barely coming up for air, and scrolling to death, metaphorically speaking, after all? Well, I feel the reply is true in front of us (as in plain sight), but not only are we missing it, we’re intentionally ignoring it! So, let’s take a deeper look into what might be happening and the way we might be more aware of how we spend our time.
Not So Good Results
According to several studies and up to date research, there was a gentle rise in depression and anxiety over the past ten years. However, since 2023, that rate has grown exponentially. Gallup News reports that clinical depression had been slowly rising within the U.S. prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but has jumped notably in its wake. Social isolation, loneliness, fear of infection, psychological exhaustion (particularly amongst front-line responders resembling healthcare employees), elevated substance abuse, and disruptions in mental health services have all likely played a task.”
The study continues by stating women and teenagers, together with the Black and Hispanic communities, are being hit the toughest and showing signs of depression at earlier ages. Much of it’s because of the emotional and mental strain these events have placed on certain demographics and groups. Between social media’s presence coming front and center with more school being done online than ever before and social isolation, not to say rising costs of food and housing, job scarcity, and fear that comes with the numerous uncertainties, it has caused a national health crisis of sorts.
That said, phones have change into somewhat of a crutch. A option to clumsily connect in a world that feels so foreign and unexplainable. While there are advantages, like connecting with family members from afar or easily conducting business from the press of a button. The drawbacks of those devices are nothing to bat a watch at, especially as phones proceed to evolve and supply easier access to absolutely anything, opening up a plethora of dangerous apps and sinful addictions. It’s no wonder this generation of youth is looking for such a severe spike in depression and anxiety.
Awareness Is Key
The excellent news is we don’t need to change into stuck on this place. Relevant magazine states, “Researchers found that when people blocked web access on their smartphones for just two weeks, 91% felt higher—like, significantly higher. Their mental health improved, their focus sharpened, and their overall well-being got a lift.”
While we are able to get a depression diagnosis from a health care provider and simply fill a prescription for anti-depressants, what if the cure was so simple as putting your phones down and taking a break? A mental and emotional break. Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, the reality of the matter is these little handheld devices are designed to lure us in and grab our attention, only for a millisecond before they direct us to something else. Why do you’re thinking that reels were created? If you haven’t noticed, as a society, we’re also losing our attention span at an unprecedented rate. Just take into consideration how hard it has change into to look at a two-hour movie without checking your phone!
Our phones have change into this draw that keeps us coming back for more. More news, more reels, more feedback, more dopamine hits, more – fill within the blank, leading us away from what is true in front of us. Friends, we must acknowledge that this has change into an enormous problem. It’s alarming, and we want to approach it with care, but we also must act swiftly. This might not be the tip of the world, but when we don’t create protected boundaries for ourselves, our youngsters, and our family members, it can likely “feel” prefer it is! Furthermore, allowing ourselves to be consumed by these devices makes it glaringly harder and harder to differentiate truth from lies!
Creating a Healthy Relationship with Your Phone
Maybe two weeks without web access isn’t feasible for you. That’s okay. Start small. Just taking a little bit of a break can permit you to clear your head and deal with what really matters, like the valuable people right in front of you!
The importance of setting healthy boundaries around your phone has proven to be just as helpful as taking anti-depressants. According to a recent study and Relevant magazine, “467 participants proved that cutting back on phone time had effects comparable to antidepressants. ‘The results found were that individuals had higher mental health, higher subjective well-being, and better-sustained attention,’ based on Adrian Ward, a psychologist on the University of Texas at Austin.” So how can we take motion steps and create boundaries around our phone usage? Start with one, two, or all of those…
4 Healthy Action Steps to Create Boundaries with Your Tech
1. Start with a basic morning and evening routine.
Try not to succeed in in your phone very first thing upon waking up, but moderately, do something physical like stretch or go for a walk. In the evenings, set a limit on when to place your phone away. You might also wish to try charging it away out of your bed so you possibly can wind down and get a peaceful rest.
2. Turn off your notifications.
The “dings” might be enticing. That’s because they are supposed to draw us back in. Just turn off any apps of social media that aren’t needed.
3. Take a break.
If social media or a certain search keeps luring you in, be mindful and step away for a bit.
4. Be present.
Be intentional along with your time and make certain that you’re spending quality time with those that you just love, face-to-face. Due to email and quick responses through text, we’ve didn’t see the meaningful interactions that happen once we meet and exchange conversations in this fashion.
Honestly, whether you struggle with mental health or not, it’s all the time a very good idea to observe how much you employ your phone. The truth of the matter is that our world, and particularly technology, is rapidly changing, and it might probably be hard to maintain up! We must foster healthy relationships and have the opportunity to make use of our time correctly; otherwise, we are going to suffer the results. So look up today and set your eyes on the wealthy beauty God has for you and be grateful for at the present time by simply having fun with it!
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Jae Park
