Tech Break Brings Emotional and Physical Benefits
March 5th is the National Day of Unplugging, which is an annual campaign that promotes a full 24-hour break from technology on the first weekend in March. The goal of the campaign is to inspire people to think about incorporating a healthy technology balance in their lives and to promote human interaction and connection over digital communication. Setting down your devices also can benefit your physical health. Are you ready for a tech break?
What is Tech Neck?
There are physical benefits to taking a break from your phone. Looking down at your mobile device for an extended period of time can give rise to neck pain and structural damage commonly referred to as tech neck, or text neck. This condition is becoming increasingly common. If you have pre-existing back and neck pain from a car accident, as many of our clients do, improper posture and poor body mechanics can aggravate that pain.
Doctors and chiropractors have been noticing an increase in patients with neck and upper back pain among younger people. People have always looked down while engaging in certain activities such as reading and writing, but the proliferation of hand-held devices has led to us holding the position for much longer periods of time. Studies have shown that close to 80% of people between the ages 18 and 44 carry their mobile phones nearly all the time.
Symptoms of Tech Neck
Looking down at your mobile phone for long periods of time throughout the day can cause the following symptoms:
- Upper back pain
- Shoulder pain and stiffness
- Muscle spasms
- Trapezius pain and tightness
More seriously, if the nerves in your cervical area become chronically inflamed, this can cause pain and numbness to radiate down your arm. Continuing to maintain tech neck posture despite warning symptoms from your body could lead to chronic issues and possibly the early onset of arthritis.
Preventing Tech Neck
Preventing the problem in the first place is the best defense against tech neck. Here are some prevention tips:
- Keep all screens as eye level as possible – your phone, tablets, and laptop should all be positioned so that you don’t have to bend forward or tilt your head down to view them.
- Take frequent and regular breaks from your digital devices.
- Set an alarm to get up and move around every half hour.
- Position your computer screen so that you are looking forward with an upright posture.
- In general, be mindful of any activity that has you looking down with a forward head bend. Looking downward puts a strain on your neck.
Activities for the National Day of Unplugging
During the pandemic, many of us have come to rely on our mobile devices and other technology even more than usual due to boredom or loneliness. Below are a few ideas for activities that can fill time during your tech break.
- Find fun outside of phone games – build blanket forts with (or without) the kids, create a scavenger hunt, put together a puzzle, or pull out your dusty board games.
- Start a craft – paint rocks for your garden, cross-stitch, or work on a paint-by-numbers masterpiece.
- Get outside for a long walk on one of the many trails our area has to offer.
- Spend the day decluttering and finding items to donate to a local charity.
- Paint an accent wall in a boring room. Or, check out some of the removable peel-and-stick wallpaper options to cover a dreary wall.
- Prepare a themed meal with three courses.
- Spa day – practice yoga, paint your nails or do some thorough manscaping, and take a bubble bath.
Watch the YouTube video below highlighting some of the hiking trails near the Stockton area.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Stockton
Hello. I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton, California personal injury lawyer. The overuse of hand-held devices has also led to an increase in the number of automobile accidents caused by distracted driving. If you have been injured due to the inattention or negligence of another driver, call our compassionate injury lawyers at (209) 227-1931 or (800) 404-5400. We are always happy to offer free and friendly legal advice.
See what others have to say about our personal injury law firm on Avvo.
Photo Attribution: MMB
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