Devising A Strategy

Simple Ways To Be Smart About Your Screen Time.

- Donna Fleming

Hand-held electronic devices like smart-phones, tablets and eBook readers, as well as laptops, have revolutionised our lives.

They can make tasks so much easier (isn’t it great being able to pay bills without getting off the sofa?), help us stay in touch with others, and inform and entertain us for hours.

But there are downsides to devices. They can sometimes be bad for our health if we’re not careful and digital technology can have a huge impact on family dynamics if we spend too much time engrossed in what’s happening on our screens.

Here are a few points to bear in mind when it comes to how you and your family use devices.

HEALTH HAZARDS

BAD POSTURE AND NECK, BACK AND SHOULDER PAIN

Hunching over laptops and devices, and constantly looking down at them can lead to a host of problems, including sore shoulders, neck and back. To counter this, raise the screen to eye level so you are not bending forward and prop it up against a surface so your arms don’t get sore holding it up. Take frequent breaks (muscles can seize up if you stay in one position without moving), and stretch your arms, neck and back.

Limit how much time you spend looking at the screen too – use the alarm on your device to help monitor this.

SORE ARMS AND WRISTS

Overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome can result from too much time on devices and laptops, especially if you are doing repetitive movements such as using a mouse.

You can also end up with pain in your elbows if you sit for long periods with your arms bent holding a device. Texting or doing the motions used to play games can injure nerves and tendons too so, again, limit your time, don’t stay in one position for too long and frequently stretch your arms.

EYE STRAIN