Do you know how much time people spend looking at a screen each day?
Reports vary, but even the “official” figures, which are almost always rather massaged, suggest that globally, on average we spend around 7 to 8 hours every day peering into a screen. In America it’s considerably more with an estimated average of 11-12 hours. Seeing as we are only awake for about 16 hours this is an awful lot of time for an awful lot of us.
In another recent survey here in Thailand, people were asked about “constant connectivity.”
88% of the adult population, an overwhelming majority, believe they should be constantly connected to the internet, night and day, work or play, that the phone or computer or tablet never gets turned off, that we are all hooked up, on grid, contactable and connected 24hrs per day, 7 days a week.
What do you think? Is this right?
Did you read the report just last year about a seventeen year old Russian school boy who died as a direct result of playing computer games non stop for 22 days. Doctors believe he died from a combination of poor diet, little sleep and inactivity. The cause of death was recorded as Thrombosis.
Last year a Chinese school boy tried to kill himself rather than go to a special clinic for gaming addicted teenagers. But, the most upsetting and saddest report must be the young Korean couple who let their baby starve to death while they were playing computer games in the next room.
How long do you spend each day looking at a screen? Do you find it difficult to switch off? Do you think you should reduce screen time?
The whole world is staying online for longer. National averages for screen time is rising steadily each year and more and more special clinics are opening to treat people with screen related addictions.
Why Is Screen Time A Problem
Increased screen time relates directly to increased sleep problems.
Increased screen time increases the risk of attention problems, anxiety, and depression.
Increased screen time is linked to weight gain and obesity.
Increased screen time increases receptivity to advertising.
Increased time playing violent computer games results in people being more aggressive and less sympathetic.
Life Coaching Ideas To Reduce Screen Time:
- Remove the TV or computer or mobile device from your bedroom.
Don’t watch TV/ Youtube during meals or homework.
Don’t eat or snack or drink fizzy sugary drinks while watching TV or using the computer.
Don’t have the computer or TV on for background noise (listen to music or the radio).
Decide which programmes to watch ahead of time and then turn off the TV or computer.
Make a plan to engage in other activities; sport, puzzles, gardening, art, swimming, reading, drawing, writing, going for a walk, cooking…anything!
Turn your phone off in restaurants.
Don’t hang out with other people who have screen time problems.
If you are doing something else important turn your phone off.
Challenge yourself to go 1 week without watching TV or doing other screen-time activities.
Find things to do with your family and friends that get you moving and burning energy.
Keep a record of how much time you spend in front of a screen and then try to spend the same amount of time being active.
Get out and enjoy life. Don’t just live it through a screen.
Check out our Life Coaching Holidays.
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