What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the mornings? The chances are, you reach for your mobile and check your messages, scroll through social media or read the news headlines. In today’s fast-paced world, our phones are rarely far from our fingertips, but this constant connection could be causing more harm than you think.
“Our mobiles offer a fast-track connection with the world and our friends, but we can feel bombarded by information,” explains leading psychologist Dr Alison McClymont. “People are chronically stressed, and that’s partly due to the constant communication – work is always an email away, parenting pressure is always there on a WhatsApp group, and reminders pop up regularly.”
Of course, there’s also social media to contend with, and it’s well documented that the “perfect” lives we see on TikTok and Instagram can damage our self-esteem.
“When people feel bad about their body image, they often seek out social media instead of staying away from it,” explains psychologist Dr Romi Ran. “They are then flooded with health advice from people who aren’t professionals, which can be harmful. For example, it might lead to them undereating, then getting hungry and binge eating. They then feel ashamed, and go back to taking advice from other people. It’s a vicious circle.”
Worryingly, experts even believe smartphones are eroding our ability to connect with each other.
Denne historien er fra February 26, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 26, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE PITFALLS OF AT-HOME REMEDIES
Some online health advice could be putting our wellbeing at risk
GREEK RETREATS
Relax and unwind at some of the Greek islands' best wellness destinations, offering sun, sea - and spas
Food from home
Romy Gill takes us on a journey through the ancestral kitchens of the Bengal and Punjab regions by sharing 70 of her beloved family recipes
DANCING QUEEN: 'You'd have to shovel me out of my Strictly chair'
Shirley Ballas loves her role as head judge on the hit BBC dance show and despite struggling with back pain, she won't be putting her feet up any time soon, she tells OK! in an exclusive interview
FAMILY TIME: 'I feel content and in a good place - I was so different before I became a mum'
Reality TV star Ferne McCann on motherhood, marriage and being inspired by her children
THE MATCHMAKER: 'I would pay to go on My Mum, Your Dad if I wasn't in a relationship'
As the hit ITV dating series where single parents get a second chance of finding love returns, host Davina McCall reveals why the show is such a success
REEL DRAMA: BRAD STEALS THE SHOW AT MAJOR MOVIE EVENT
A host of screen stars graced the red carpet for the 81st Venice International Film Festival
FAMILY MATTERS: 'PETE AND I GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES, BUT WE LAUGH EVERY DAY'
Presenter Abbey Clancy tells us her secret to a happy marriage and why she loves the chaos of family life
SUMMER OF LOVE: 'We just match each other perfectly'
Olympic swimmer Matthew Richards marries fiancée Emily Large in a fairytale ceremony, making it a summer that they'll never forget
LIFE, LOVE AND DUTY: QUEEN CAMILLA'S JOURNEY INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Following another busy week of duties, it's clear Queen Camilla has taken to her role in the monarchy “like a duck to water\" says former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond