4 ways to reduce digital fatigue

If there is one thing working from home has increased, it is how much time we’re spending in front of screens - our days are made up of sequences of zooms, emails, social media, more emails and more screen time. Increased time spent in front of screens can have severe effects on not just our exhaustion levels, but overall health, including the health of your eyes, posture, mental health, it can affect our sleep and skin.

According to a survey carried out by the charity Fight for Sight, 50% of students and 42% of working adults who have been using screens more during lockdown believe their eyesight has been affected. 39% of individuals reported difficulty reading as a result, 23% are experiencing headaches or migraines, and 17% believe they have poorer night vision.

Dry, red, and tired eyes are symptoms of digital eye strain. Back pain, strained neck and bad posture are the results of sitting awkwardly at desks and makeshift home workstations. Too much time in front of devices in the hours before bed can disturb your sleep health, increased exposure leads to a suppression of melatonin - the sleep hormone. These side effects can be detrimental to your health and can manifest in several ways including a lack of productivity and focus, irritability, a compromised immune system and increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

4 Things You Can Do To Help With The Effects of Digital Fatigue

1. Sleep Supplements: Sleep supplements can help relax the body and aid overall health, the Dreem Distillery Night Drops contain high-quality potent broad-spectrum CBD, enhanced with our Super Terpene Blend to increase its sleep-inducing properties, as well as its benefits for anxiety. The formula works to bring about a soothed, relaxed and sleepy state within 30 minutes after consumption and delivers hours of uninterrupted sleep so you won't have to hit snooze on loop come morning.

2. Posture Correction: Taking small breaks to prevent long extended periods of sitting at your desk is a good starting point to help with posture correction and one of the simplest things you can do. Take it to the next level by combining short breaks with desk accessories, pillows, and exercise equipment designed to improve your posture, which can have a huge effect on aches and pains. You can try an adjustable standing desk monitor, a neck pillow and posture exercises.

3. 20-20-20 Rule: The 20-20-20 rule is recommended by eye care professionals. The basic rule is for every 20 minutes spent using a screen; you should try to look away at something that is 20 feet away from you for a total of 20 seconds. It’s easy to get caught in your workload, we’ve all been there, so to help engage the 20-20-20 rule, there are also free apps like Eye Care 20 20 20 that can help to remind you - click start when you begin your screen time, and the app will remind you to take a break.

4. Limit Screen Time: It’s easy to say “control your screen time” or “put your phone away,” but in reality it can be extremely difficult to implement. However, it is one of the best things you can do for your health. Employ screen time tools, try apps to help to maintain how long you spend on your phone, engage in activities, opt for a book or take a warm bath without your phone. Taking a warm bath can be extremely beneficial to your sleep health. The warming of the body and then the drop of temperature as you get out of the bath triggers your sleep cycle. This process is important for falling and staying asleep, as it is during this time that the sleep hormone, melatonin, circulates in higher concentrations. The addition of our soothing and sleep-inducing bath oil, Into The Deep, is formulated with deeply relaxing organic essential oils, potent broad-spectrum CBD and soothing arnica, for a good night's sleep.