Digital addiction is increasingly damaging our well-being by disrupting sleep, mental health and social interactions but simple steps can help break the cycle, says Access Corporate’s Livia Wang.
The rise of digital disruption is having a significant effect on our sleep cycles, social interactions and mental health. Bad posture, sedentary lifestyles, stress and a chronic addiction to digital devices leaves many Australians struggling to find peace and harmony in their everyday lives.
A study by Monash University found some people suffer from nomophobia – the irrational fear of being without your mobile phone. It found that 99.2% of Australians had at one point experienced at least moderate fear when without their phone, and 13.2% had experienced a severe dependency that was harmful to their health.
For many, our mobile phones are with us 24/7. Nearly half of us (46%) believe we are addicted to our smartphones, according to a survey of 1,000 Australians conducted by Review.org. The research indicates that 72% of people sleep with their phone next to them, saying they check the device within 10 minutes of waking up.
Long-term ramifications
The health effects might not be immediately obvious, but will become evident in the long run, warns serial entrepreneur and passionate vegan, Livia Wang. Her company, Access Corporate, is dedicated to the wellbeing of fellow Australians and Wang holds genuine concerns about the long-term societal implications of digital addiction. This has prompted her to issue a warning about the “endless demands” that come via our mobile devices.
“We live in a time when we have a lot of demands that previous generations didn’t have to deal with. Constantly on our devices, drowning in messages and online conversations isn’t a normal way to live, and the consequences are already clear,” she says.
“The way we hold our phone, with our shoulders slumped in a bad posture for hours on end will impact us into old age. It’s so common to lose awareness of our body, and not realise the problems we’re causing through the things we do during the day.”
Access Corporate propels wellness brands into international markets. With more than 50 success stories on her books, Wang and her company now invest in, own and lead 15 wellness businesses.
Improving sleep
Because the human body rapidly reacts to multiple stimuli throughout the day, taking time to unwind and allowing for between six and eight hours of quality sleep each night is crucial, explains Wang.
She emphasises that waking during the night and lying sleepless for an extended period indicates there are abnormal patterns impacting your broader health: “Sleep is something that the human body is meant to be able to do naturally.”
Disrupted sleep and rising mental health issues are common issues today. Research shows that more than half of working Australians (54%) have turned up to work exhausted in the last year, with most respondents saying this has impacted their productivity at work. On average, those who work tired say their productivity declines by 15%.
Wang is particularly concerned about younger generations growing up in the digital world. “Young people are trapped spending hours on their phone. Parents of young people need to make sure they are aware that there’s a beautiful world out there,” she says.
The age of notifications
The problem is that a constant stream of notifications prompts us to pick up our phone and respond quickly, spurred by a fear of consequences or of somehow missing out. By changing the notifications setting on your phone, you can respond in your own time, Wang says.
“Otherwise, it’s like someone coming into your house or office anytime they want, which we wouldn’t put up with in our real lives. We need to maintain a healthy awareness of what’s taking our focus right now, so we can live our life,” she says.
Overcoming digital addiction
Wang notes that the addiction to devices coincides with the rise of the smartphone. Trying to put down our phone at a specific time each day is a challenge, particularly for busy corporates. Instead of trying to fight the addiction, she suggests actively lifting your awareness of other things you could be doing that would make you feel better.
“For example, be more aware of the beauty outside of your phone. Look at the many beautiful things around you and enjoy those things,” Wang says.
“Taking time to enjoy the nice weather, or sport and nature, is really important. There are so many things that you would get so much more out of if you weren’t sitting on a digital device outside of work.”
She also emphasises the importance of engaging in deeper, meaningful conversations with our loved ones about the beauty we see around us, which can also help break the addiction.
“Small daily habits like these can set you up for a lifetime of happiness.”