And these days, with many of us working from home, the lines between work and home have blurred some. You may find yourself spending more time with technology. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Farragut wants to share some tips on protecting your health.
What Effect Does Technology Have on Health?
While time spent looking at screens, like our laptops, is a reality for many of us, it comes with some negatives. For one, most of us quite simply don’t sit properly while we’re using a computer or other device.
We hunch over, getting ourselves closer to the screen, which can cause both orthopedic issues and issues with our eyes. But the screen itself can also cause problems—the blue light the screen emits is tied with sleep issues and eye strain.
Other Effects of Screen Time
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Diminished sleep quality
- Dry eyes
- Blurry vision
- Diminished mood
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
This is a bit of a trick question. While there are established recommendations for children, setting guidelines for electronic use is a little more difficult for adults.
It’s a good idea to watch yourself and your health and look for signs, like we’ve identified above, that could indicate you’re getting too much screen time. Otherwise, look for opportunities at all times to do work and other tasks away from the screen, getting up and moving whenever possible and looking away from the device.
Tips for Safe Screen Use
- Make sure the area where you’re sitting is well-lit and you aren’t squinting.
- Every 20 minutes, look away from the computer or other device for at least 20 seconds, looking 20 feet away.
- Use blue light glasses to filter out the blue light that can disrupt sleep and cause eye strain.
- Ensure your desk or other workspace is set up ergonomically to avoid hunching over.
We are here for you! Visit the AFC Urgent Care Farragut website today to learn about our services and how you can schedule a visit.
