Technology is wonderful for many reasons, but it has certain downfalls as well. Maybe you have to look at a computer screen all day for work, or perhaps you notice your kids glued to the TV or their phones after school. Either way, there’s a good chance you realize that too much screen time doesn’t exactly lead to a healthy lifestyle.
As the weather turns colder, it’s especially easy to rely on screens to fill your free hours. Though you may understand that screens can have a negative impact on health, you might not know precisely how they can impact you.
Screens Encourage a Sedentary Lifestyle
When you’re busy scrolling through social media or watching your favorite TV show, it’s easy to forget about the importance of physical activity, but that can lead to health issues. In fact, one study of 169 adolescent students found that those who reported more minutes of screen time per day were more likely to be overweight or obese.
Limiting screen time can help you and your family make time for healthy activities like taking a walk, playing sports or simply spending quality time together.
They Take a Physical Toll
Even if you do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you’re not looking at screens, that digital habit can still have an impact on your comfort and wellbeing.
You may notice that you experience neck or back pain after a long day staring at your phone or computer; it can be tough to maintain proper posture while you scroll, type or stream. Slouching or staring down for hours can result in discomfort that’s tough to shake.
Blue Light May Result in Sleep Disturbances
The circadian system is responsible for sending sleep-wake signals; blue light is thought to suppress melatonin secretion within the circadian system. Melatonin is a hormone that helps promote healthy sleep.
While it may be helpful to suppress melatonin during the day so you can stay alert, it’s certainly not ideal in the evening. Spending too much time in front of screens in the hours before bed may result in trouble sleeping.
Eye Health May Suffer
It’s no secret that staring at a screen for too long can leave your eyes feeling tired, but it may actually cause damage as well.
The light emitted by screens may cause various types of eye damage, so it’s a good idea to try and limit screen time for yourself and your family in order to preserve optimal eye health.
How Supplements Can Help
Although it’s nearly impossible to avoid screens entirely in the modern world, you can try to develop a healthy relationship with technology and incorporate supplements into your routine to support key health areas that may be impacted by screens.
For example, KAL Melatonin Gummies help support healthy sleep when you face occasional disruptions, and D-3 ActivGels contain 60 mcg of Vitamin A, which may help support healthy eyes.
While there’s no denying that screens are bound to have some impact on you and your family, there are healthy steps you can take to ensure that your digital devices don’t cause more harm than good.
