Digital Device Addiction - A Universal Vice

Like drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, even digital devices can cause addiction. An average person is found to spend more than half of his waking hours with digital devices.

As people multitask on mobiles, their concentration spans are drastically reduced. Many of us check our messages and updates as soon as we reach home, tending to spend less time with our family members.

Digital device addiction has become a major problem even at offices and workplaces.

Dr Hari Kishan Boorugu, Consultant Physician at Apollo Hospitals, explained, "Digital device addiction leads to stress, eye-strain, pain in the neck and shoulder muscles and tremendous pain in the fingers. When an affected person is put on a detoxification drive, he or she suffers from restlessness, irritation and boredom."

Delink and Destress

Digital detox rejuvenates both the body and mind.  For a change, we observe, listen and also speak in the real world rather than living in a virtual one.

Stress builds quickly up due to excessive use of digital devices. This in turn causes people to react too quickly at both social and personal levels. Given these kind of 'knee-jerk reactions', it’s becoming important to delink from digital devices.

Dr K Shiva Raju, Senior Consultant Physician at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, explained, "Parents need to spend more time with their children and this can be done in a digital detox session."

Common Signs of Digital Addiction

- People feel an uncomfortable sense of withdrawal when not online

- Lack of interest in other activities

- Constantly talking about or getting distracted by technology

- Mood swings and argumentative behaviour

- Increase in lying or a rise in devious behaviour

How To Opt For Digital Detox

- Exercise

- Meditation and yoga

- Listen to good music

- Play indoor and outdoor games

- Sleep

Benefits of Digital Detox

- Improves concentration

- Improves human relations

- Improves mental health

- Helps to maintain good posture