- Ivan Fernandez Suarez
- The conversation*
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The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has changed our lives.
On a social, work and personal level, we act, work or communicate differently. This situation, amplified by the pandemic, has created new risks in our daily lives. These are the so-called emerging risks.
The main problem is that the high exposure to computers, tablets, smartphones and other technologies has increased our level of negative stress. Specifically, when the origin is in the difficulty of adapting to technologies, it is called techno-stress.
The new risks and their names
Faced with this situation, new risks appear that affect our health, including:
- Vampires: digital hyperconnection subtracts hours of sleep and causes insomnia.
- Phubbing or ningufoneo: contempt for those around us for prioritizing our phones.
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Ignoring those around us by hanging on the phone is one of the most common ailments and can significantly affect our interpersonal relationships.
- Smombies: the posture of moving around or performing other activities do not pay attention to be aware of the smartphone.
- nomophobia: the need to stay constantly connected. We can’t stay without a connection for 24 hours.
- Text Neck: set of disorders in the cervical region distracted from constant phone calls and adopting wrong attitudes.
All these risks are related to an increase in the number of hours we spend in front of a screen and a decrease in physical activity.
The combination of digital hyperconnection, sedentary lifestyle and/or overeating does deadlyand ultimately leads to circulatory, respiratory, musculoskeletal, or even mental problems.
This has helped turn us from fear of infectious and sexually transmitted diseases to easy prey for them. chronic non-communicable diseases. These diseases are not contagious, but it is our way of life (a cultural aspect) that promotes their spread.
Some attitude changes
We cannot erase social and labor demands with a stroke of the pen. But we can change our attitude towards these demands. Here are some suggestions for dealing with technostress:
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The long periods we spend in front of computers or our cell phones can cause physical problems such as neck and cervical conditions.
- Identify the sources of stress, that is, the stressors that cause a change in our state of well-being. Know what stresses us out It’s the first step to face it.
- Be aware of what activities free us from stress. Each of us must know which activities allow us to completely forget about the rest of the situations that cause us stress: sports, culture, family, friends, etc.
- Look for physical activation. Daily demands tend towards the mental part, which is why it is important to try to compensate for this mental effort with physical activity. This same effort will help us cope with a sedentary lifestyle and the musculoskeletal problems that come with it. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises in any case 150 minutes of weekly moderate physical activity. In any case, this activity is understood as a brisk walk or light run.
- Practice digital decoupling. The hyperconnection we live in generates dependency. We must be able to find oases that will free us from information overload, leave room for our minds to recharge.
image source, Getty Images
Exercising regularly or asking family and friends for help to reduce exposure to technology are ways to ensure our health, says the author.
- Find support. Family, friends or colleagues, communication and social interaction are good tools for managing technostress.
- Planning, organization, self-awareness. Being prepared to face stressful situations, organizing our lives and knowing our strengths and weaknesses makes us more resilient.
Stress is defined as a mismatch between demands and possibilities. Therefore, if we know and improve our abilities, we will be able to better tolerate the stressful situations we face on a daily basis.
Adaptation to change made us evolve and survive as a species. At a time when change is constant, we need that adjustment more than ever.
*Iván Fernández Suárez is a professor in the Master’s Program Prevention of Occupational Risks at the International University of La Rioja (Spain).
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