The Coronavirus public health crisis has been a mental health crisis as well.
Working from home and social distancing have quickly introduced new norms that many had to quickly adapt to. The uncertainty, combined with increased time online for many during quarantine, has led to an increase in anxiety symptoms.
There are some simple changes in lifestyle you can make to ease symptoms of digital anxiety. These include:
Taking breaks: try to not spend too much time in front of screens at once. Many workplaces now encourage taking breaks about once every hour. Stretch, take a walk, have a healthy snack, or just do something else for a while. In addition to feeling fresher, you’ll also end up being more productive and focused!
Limiting screen time before bed. This is especially important for people who experience difficulty sleeping. Try putting away the laptop and phone an hour before you go to sleep. Reading, listening to relaxing music, meditation, or a bath are all good ways to ease anxiety before bed.
Practicing mindfulness. Social media runs on our instinctive, emotional reactions. When you spend time on social media, check in with yourself emotionally before you respond. What are you feeling, and why? Don’t feel the need to explain or solve it—simply recognizing that something angers or saddens you is important.