Technology: It has become both a blessing and a curse for college students.
Technology has made college a much more streamlined process–all you need is a device and an internet connection, and you’re set. While technology has improved the lives of college students around the world, it does come with some problems. The biggest one? How much time college students spend staring at a screen.
Whether it be for school or for fun, screens are everywhere. As long as technology has been in our lives, we’ve heard the warnings from our parents and teachers, “too much screen time is bad for you.” It’s not just a big fear mongering campaign — studies have shown that too much screen time can increase anxiety, depression and brain fog.
Additionally, too much screen time before bed can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep, and poor sleep leads to a whole host of physical and mental problems. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a large portion of our lives switched to online — school included. If our education is centered around screens, how do we cut down on screen time?
There are many ways to cut down on screen time, and a lot of it starts with putting your phone down and away before bed. We’re all guilty of doing it at least once–we scroll on social media endlessly until we fall asleep. After a whole day of doing homework or studying (most likely on a laptop or tablet), it’s best to step away from the bedtime phone scrolling.
Start reading a book, go on a walk before bed, journal — anything you do that doesn’t involve a screen at least an hour before bed is bound to help you sleep better. Additionally, taking a break to get outside or away from your screens for at least 15 minutes a day can do wonders for your brain. It helps you focus better, not get distracted, and keeps you motivated.
As finals season approaches, remember that you’re more than just a mindless drone dedicated to studying and typing away on your laptop. You’re a person. Read a book, touch some grass or go on a walk with your friends.
Get out of the library, and away from the screens, at least for a little bit. Your brain will thank you!
