Are You Addicted to Your Phone? - Wellness Wednesday

Staggering screen stats

A whopping 31% of US adults say they go online ‘almost constantly’.
British adults spend an average of 4,866 hours a year staring at screens, whether that’s phones, laptops, TVs, gaming devices or e-readers.
The average person spends 145 minutes a day on social media alone.
On average, adults in the UK check their smartphone every 12 minutes.

Of course, some screen and online use is productive and unavoidable – while at work, for example. But a vast amount of it is wasted time – and studies have shown there can be a link between heavy online and social media usage and mental health issues like low self-esteem, depression, lack of focus, and isolation. Not to mention the potential physical effects, which can include eye strain, neck and back pain, and headaches.

We all need downtime – and there’s nothing wrong with spending time online or watching TV. Social media can be a way to connect and combat loneliness, too. But if it’s starting to make you unwell, or you’re starting to neglect other areas of your life, it might be time to think about a digital detox.

Here are a few ways to help cut down:

Stop using your phone in bed – don’t even take it into the bedroom. Get an alarm clock if you use it as an alarm.
Delete social media apps from your phone.
When you watch a movie, read a book, or spend time with friends, leave your phone in a drawer or bag so you’re not tempted to scroll.
Ban screens from the dinner table.

References

Afraid of losing your phone? There’s a name for that: nomophobia – healthline.com, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/nomophobia
How much time do we spend looking at screens? – Vision Direct, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.visiondirect.co.uk/blog/research-reveals-screen-time-habits
About three-in-ten U.S. adults say they are ‘almost constantly’ online – Andrew Perrin and Sara Atske, Pew Research Center, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/03/26/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-say-they-are-almost-constantly-online
Daily social media usage worldwide – Statista.com, H Tankovska, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/433871/daily-social-media-usage-worldwide
A decade of digital dependency – Ofcom, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-news/decade-of-digital-dependency
Digital detox research – It’s Time to Log Off, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.itstimetologoff.com/digital-detox-facts
Excessive screen use and gaming considerations during COVID19 – The WHO, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.emro.who.int/images/stories/mnh/documents/excessive_screen_use_covid_19.pdf
The mental health effects of being constantly online – healthline.com, accessed on 21 April 2021, www.healthline.com/health/the-mental-health-effects-of-being-constantly-online

Introducing Wellness Wednesdays

Life can move at quite a pace. And sometimes we can become so focused on what’s urgent that we overlook what’s really important.

Nothing matters more than our physical and mental health. In today’s demanding world taking proper care of ourselves enables us to fulfil our potential, pursue our passions, and be there for our families, friends, and colleagues.

As a proudly purpose-led organisation we are committed to doing the right thing, from our comprehensive and diverse sustainability programme to our engagement with the communities in which we operate.

So today we are delighted to announce the launch of Wellness Wednesdays. Each day at Ortho we commit our collective energies to enhancing and protecting the lives of others. We now aim to bring this thinking, and its benefits, closer to home, and promote a greater focus on self-care for all of our colleagues.

Each week we will take a fresh and invigorating perspective on how we can better look after ourselves, from diet and exercise to relaxation and the management of stress. Our hope is to provide clear, simple and practical steps towards a healthier body and mind.

We hope that you enjoy the features we bring you, and we invite your thoughts and suggestions on topics that you would like us to cover.

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