The Center for Student Wellness (CSW) believes the constant presence of technology can take a toll on our well-being. Let’s reflect on how our digital lifestyle impacts our physical, social and emotional health and learn easy strategies to optimize our digital well-being that will allow us to engage with technology more mindfully.
Begin your digital wellness journey here
- Block off at least 1 hour per day to engage in an activity without technology
- Take a blinking break. Try the 20-20-20 Rule: for every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for a full 20 seconds
- When you are traveling between classes, keep your phone in your backpack
- Try to make more phone calls or video chats rather than communicating through text or social media
- Unfollow profiles that cause angst and replace them with profiles that encourage or inspire you
- Write down intentions for why and how you want to be online then post them by your desk
- Impose a natural stopping cue in your social media scrolling habits (e.g. only look at the first 10 stories/posts). You can repeat this multiple times daily, stopping after your self-imposed limit
- Delete your least favorite app from your phone
- Turn of social media notifications
Heads Up BC
Technology itself can be used as a tool to improve your digital wellness. Example: time monitoring apps, reminders to get off screens, and meditation apps.
Heads Up BC
Studies show that individuals who spend less time on social media have higher levels of satisfaction with their lives and a greater sense of connectedness to others.
Heads Up BC
90% of college-aged students compare themselves to peers within 15 minutes of waking up.
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