According to research from Rescue Remedy the average British person spends 14 hours and 54 minutes a day attached to their mobile phone, laptop or computer. All this time we spend staring at a screen may impact our health, says a study from Swansea University.
The research suggests that those who spend longer on the internet are 30% more susceptible to coughs and colds compared to those who don't. The study of 500 adults between the ages of 31 and 100 also suggested that the "stress and relief" of being online could lead to altered levels of cortisol – the stress hormone that regulates many of the body's changes, including immunity.
Professor Phil Reed from Swansea University said:
"We found that the impact of the internet on people's health was independent of a range of other factors, like depression, sleep deprivation and loneliness, which are associated with high levels of internet use and also with poor health… It may also be that those who spend a long time alone on the internet experience reduced immune function as a result of simply not having enough contact with others and their germs."
While this study was relatively small, this isn't the first research to suggest the internet or technology is impacting our health. Research from the Harvard Business Review found that more daily smartphone use led directly to sleep problems. Other research has indicated increased social media use play a part in increased risk of anxiety.
Tips on how to switch off:
- Try having a cut off each night and a set amount you'll check social media or emails, e.g. after 8pm, don't look at your phone or laptop unless it's really necessary.
- Download a focus app. Various apps can prevent you from smartphone distractions, by blocking out apps and notifications, or barring from certain sites altogether.
- Switch off push notifications on your devices. Take regular breaks from your screen at work – studies show you're actually more productive when you take 10 minutes for a breath of fresh air or a coffee break!