Pulling the Plug on Technology

In a world where technology is all around us, the last thought on our over-stimulated minds is to unplug from the information highway, or turn off our cell phone or the television. While most of us have become horrifically addicted to technology, there are some great reasons to cease the over-stimulation we receive on a day-to-day basis, or at least limit it. In order to understand the benefits of unplugging we must first understand the possible health hazards. Neurologist Dr. Harvinder Kohli, of Hilton Head Neurology states, "Over the past several decades, there has always been big debate whenever some new technology is discovered. It all depends how and who uses that technology." When it comes to technology, moderation is key. Failure to properly balance our daily technological intake can lead to signs of mental, health, and social setbacks.

Recurring headaches & poor vision: An article on WebMD, 7 Ways High Tech Gadgets Could Be Hurting You, (www.webmd.com) states that "The human eye is not adapted for staring at a single point in space for hours on end." Doing so could result in "eyestrain, tired eyes, irritation, redness, blurred vision, and double vision." Take quick breaks throughout the day from any screen, large or small. This will help your overall vision and will reduce headaches associated with eyestrain or blurred vision.

Hearing issues: The advancement of neat gadgets, like the ever popular iPod, is truly an amazing thing. We get to drown out the sound of our busy life and take a peaceful, relaxing journey to where ever we'd like to go, all during our pre-day and post-day commute. However, according to OSHA's website, one should only be subjected to 90 decibels for a consecutive eight-hour period. The Acoustical Society of America (www.acoustics.org) states, "These devices (iPods) are typically used with small ear buds inserted into the user's ear canal. Previous studies show that a portable personal music device may reach loudness levels as high as 130 decibels."

Obesity: It's no secret that we are getting fatter and lazier. As we get older, our metabolism slows down and so does our exercise. When most get home from a long, tiring day at work, they would rather be whisked away to a far off land of danger and romance via the television.....NOT a treadmill. While there are great tools used by technology to help with exercise, such as the Wii Fit, the likelihood of this being all you need is not great. Limit the amount of time you spend in front of the television, computer or video game console, and spend more time exploring the outdoors. This will help with your overall health, mood and productivity. Sitting for long periods of time increases poor diet, knee pain and back pain, as well as decreases good circulation.

Deteriorating Sleep Patterns: The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) published an article in 2011 entitled "Sleep in America." Of those surveyed "four in ten Americans (39%) are bringing their cell phones into their bedrooms and using them when they are trying to go to sleep." The study states that "six in ten Americans (61%) are using their computers or laptops within the hour they are trying to go to sleep." As far as the television goes, nine in ten reported watching TV in the hour before bed, in the "bedroom environment." All the participants that used some form of technology in the hour before falling asleep, admitted that they found they were "less likely to report getting a good night's sleep, more likely to wake up feeling un-refreshed, and more likely to be 'sleepy' on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale" (www.sleepfoundation.org). Feeling like you don't have the energy to face the day comes with a high cost. Enter caffeine dependency, which in its own right, is just as dangerous, if not more, than sleep loss itself. After stumbling upon this study, I decided to conduct my own experiment. Instead of watching TV before bed, I read a book. After feeling a bit tired, I closed my book, settled in and fell asleep. I woke up the next morning with more energy than I had the entire previous day.

Relationships: In this day of technological advances, relationships seem to suffer the most. Young people, especially, interact more with the digital world than reality. Dating sites and social media rule people's lives and choices, and allow them to portray their ideal versions of themselves every day. "My personal view is that children learn better social skills in physical group activities rather than engaging too much in video games and other similar devices." Dr. Kohli stated. Communication skills and attention spans decrease, projecting a lowering of the persons self-worth. Take time to talk to the people you love about what they do online, what games they are playing. While there is nothing wrong with utilizing the amazing technology at our fingertips, becoming dependent on it is something entirely different. It has been said that the production of too many useful things results in too many useless people. I challenge you to unplug from your busy life for at least one day.