The advancement of technology has brought a lot of impact on humans, both negative and positive. As we appreciate how efficient life has become, we cannot overlook some of the negatives that have come along with screen addiction affecting our mental and physical health.

We are spending more and more time staring at screens, whether it be our phones, computers, TVs, or other devices.

First of all, it causes us to be more anxious and stressed. The constant notifications and updates make us feel like we need to be constantly available and that we are missing out if we are not online.

The sense of belonging can lead to anxiety, stress, and as well as, sleeping problems. People who spend more time staring at screens are at a greater risk of developing mental health problems.

Secondly, screen addiction is affecting our relationships. We spend more time staring at our screens and less time talking to and interacting with people around us.

It leads to social isolation and loneliness. Screen addiction is causing us to have less face-to-face contact with others. We communicate more via text, social media, and other digital channels. Our ability to communicate effectively and empathize with others is on a decline.

Thirdly, screen addiction is impacting our ability to concentrate and focus. We find it hard to concentrate on tasks and focus on what we are doing (at a particular moment) because information and stimuli from our screens bombard our brains.

Fourthly, too much screen time can lead to sleep problems. The blue light from screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle, making it difficult to fall asleep, resulting in fatigue and irritability.

Finally, screen addiction is hurting our physical health. Our sitting time without moving has led to weight gain, back and neck problems, and other health-related issues.

Screen addiction has a real negative impact on our mental and physical health. We must recognize the problem and take steps to reduce our screen time.

Changes to screen time habits can make such a difference to our health and well-being. We must make a conscious effort to spend more time offline.

We should limit our screen time to 2 hours a day. Taking breaks throughout the day to move our bodies and get fresh air is necessary.

Finally, to maintain our physical connections, we need to reach out to friends and family to connect with them in person.