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Wellness

Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Relationship with Technology

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at York U chapter.

Our relationship with technology impacts the way we live, work, and interact with the outside world in this fast-paced digital age we live in. To guarantee a healthy coexistence, we need to take a thoughtful and balanced approach, especially as our reliance on electronics grows.

The goal of maintaining a positive relationship with technology becomes critical in this era of perpetual connectedness. In this article, we will examine useful and efficient strategies for preserving a relationship with the digital environment, cultivating a way of living that embraces technology’s advantages while preserving our wellbeing.

It’s critical to navigate these digital media with intention in a world when the ease of smartphones, the attraction of social media, and the demands of a hyperconnected work environment may frequently lead to overconsumption. In a world where screens rule our lives, making in-person contacts a priority is essential to creating lasting relationships. Meanwhile, taking occasional breaks from technology to recharge the mind and promote emotional stability is also beneficial.

Many tactics are designed to provide you with the ability to take charge enabling you to create an environment where technology improves rather than detracts from your overall quality of life.

You can take control of your relationship with technology to make sure it is not taking away from your life and doesn’t become a stress or distraction. Setting boundaries helps you use technology more intentionally, creating a healthy balance between social media and physical aspects of your life. Boundaries allow us to step back and create a space for ourselves where we feel comfortable and we have control over ourselves and how we use our social media. 

Efficiently managing the time spent on your phone is a key aspect to setting boundaries. Designate specific time slots for checking emails, scrolling through social media, and working on projects that require you to use your phone. Utilise tools such as timers or productivity apps to ensure there are time limits. Additionally, establish time throughout the day and especially before bedtime, to promote quality sleep and reduce the potential negative impact of screen exposure. 

Create physical spaces in your home or workplace where technology is not allowed. For example, designate the dining area or the bedroom without having cellphones to encourage face-to-face communication, relaxation, and enhance overall well-being. By making spaces where screens are not present, you allow yourself for connection with others and create an approach to the use of technology in specific aspects of your life.

Another aspect you should include is communicating openly with friends, family, and colleagues about your expectations regarding response times to messages and calls. Set periods when you’ll be intentionally offline to focus on the personal aspects of your life. This approach will give you a balanced lifestyle. 

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/ Unsplash

Taking breaks from social media is essential because you are able to detox because you need to recharge and reflect. Sometimes social media can take over our lives and we start to feel different emotions such as frustrations and sadness. Taking a mental break allows you to reflect and come back being more positive. 

Decide on certain periods of the day or week to consciously unplug from social media. Set aside certain times to engage in hobbies like reading, working out, or spending time with loved ones without being distracted by social media. Take advantage of this time to do things that make you happy and fulfilled. This will help you break the pattern of never being connected and will help you develop a better relationship with technology.

Think about starting regular “digital detox” weekends when you avoid using any social media and restrict your screen usage in general. This longer pause enables a deeper reset that can alleviate stress, sharpen attention, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Take use of this time to unwind without the continual barrage of digital information, pursue hobbies, or spend time in nature. By scheduling digital detox weekends on a regular basis, you establish a recharging and disconnecting pattern that will last.

By establishing clear aims for your online actions, you may engage in mindful consumption when using social media. Restrict the amount of time you spend perusing through feeds, and choose the stuff you interact with carefully. Create a social media environment that reflects your interests and beliefs by unfollowing accounts that encourage comparison or bad sentiments. You may lessen the need for frequent pauses and create a more fulfilling online experience by using social media with intention.

It is very important to stay active physically and give your body the activities they need in order to stay healthy. Most of the time we are on the couch scrolling on our phones but in that time we could also be engaging in healthy physical activity that will help our bodies. 

Bringing mindfulness into physical activities makes them more enjoyable overall and encourages living a healthy lifestyle. Select pursuits that fulfil your interests and make you happy. Practise mindful movement throughout these exercises by focusing on your body, breath, and environment. Establish reasonable fitness objectives and acknowledge little accomplishments to foster a positive outlook on maintaining an active lifestyle. To keep your physical routines interesting, embrace variation and modify your exercises to accommodate shifting tastes. During your workouts, use tech-free periods to bring yourself completely into the present and strengthen the bond between your body and mind.

For general health, striking a balance between technology and physical well-being is essential. Being active and using social media with awareness both support deliberate involvement and self-awareness, which help to maintain this balance. You may cultivate a positive relationship with technology and physical exercise by organising your online space and selecting joyful, mindful activities. Realise that keeping active is a way to support your physical and mental health, and that technology can be a tool to improve your well-being when utilised thoughtfully. This strategy makes sure that your use of technology and exercise is consistent with your beliefs and enhances your general wellbeing.

Regularly curate your feed to create a happy and upbeat online community. Unfollow accounts that promote negativity or comparison. Engage in an attitude of appreciation while interacting with others online by praising good material and encouraging thoughtful posting. You can make your time spent on social media a productive and good part of your day by using it with intention.

Ommum Hassan

York U '25

Hello, my name is Ommum Hassan and I am a returning member and am a writer for Her Campus. I spread awareness about many topics and spread as much knowledge as I can. Besides Her Campus I am active member of the community and work at a hospital. I work two jobs and am part of many extracurricular activities around school. The unique qualifications I pertain are FPLT and a first aid CPR certificate. I am currently affiliated with York University doing a double major in Health science and Kinesiology. I also work closely with my faculty and take part in research. In free time, I enjoy reading, working out, and recently started cooking. I enjoy my free time watching Netflix and spending quality time with my family.