From sleeplessness to poor decision-making, digital overload can manifest itself in a variety of different ways, affecting our health and wellbeing. In this article, we look at what digital overload really is, the health implications, and how cutting down on screen time can improve both your mental and physical wellbeing.
What is digital overload?
We are constantly bombarded by electronic stimuli that push our brains to work harder and harder. Dividing your attention between your smartphone, computer, tablet, and other electronic devices for hours every day can cause your stress levels to soar. Digital overload is the result.
Digital overload puts the brain in a distracted state, causing it to be hyperalert, even after you’ve turned off your devices. It can make you more sensitive to incoming messages from the environment around you, so you feel like you’re always alert and “on.”
It’s not always a conscious choice to stay plugged in to technology for hours a day. Most people rely on one form of technology or another in order to make a living. Many employers count on their employees’ ability to multitask, managing a multitude of different devices or projects at a time.
Nevertheless, for some, electronic devices can become an unhealthy obsession. If you spend virtually every waking moment staring at your smartphone, this can impact your health in a variety of ways.
According to data gathered by the Real Time Statistics Project, by January 2019, the internet comprised almost 2 billion websites. Each month, 30 billion status updates are shared on Facebook, with 175 million tweets sent every day. To process all the digital data that existed in 2013 would be the equivalent of watching 200 billion movies—and of course, this vast river of data is only larger now.
Given these startling facts, it’s easy to see why many people feel stressed and pushed to the limit. According to a UK-based survey undertaken by Microsoft, 55% of British workers complained of information overload. Most respondents admitted feeling stressed and said that this affected their wellbeing.
How does digital overload affect health and wellbeing?
Beyond feelings of stress and anxiety, digital overload can actually cause memory loss. According to Stanford University psychology professor Anthony Wagner, using different types of media at the same time can significantly impact memory tasks.
Digital overload can also make people less efficient. Multi-tasking causes “switching costs”—the time it takes to switch your attention from one task to another and then refocus, as well as the time it takes to correct any mistakes. The more a person multi-tasks, the more they must shift their attention minute-to-minute, and the longer it takes to complete projects. The American Psychological Association reports that, although switching costs may appear relatively modest, sometimes taking just taking a fraction of a second per switch, over a sustained period, repeatedly switching back and forth between tasks can result in a productivity deficit of up to 40%.
Additionally, digital overload can impair your decision-making ability. As author and neuroscientist Daniel J. Levitin points out, multitasking involves many small, fast decisions. We make snap judgements on whether we should answer an email or text; the tone we adopt in our response; and whether or not we should allow ourselves to be distracted by, say, a funny meme sent by a friend.
All of these little choices take their toll. He explains that decision-making is actually quite a significant drain on human neural resources: seemingly insignificant decisions can take up virtually the same energy as big ones. Levitin warns that, following a bombardment of small, insignificant decisions, it is easy to make a poor choice on an important issue.
Famous business and political leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Cuban, and President Barack Obama understand this—that’s why they often wear the same thing or eat the same meals every day. They’re trying to minimize the number of small decisions they have to make, to keep their minds sharp for the big decisions that really matter.
Information overload can also your affect self-esteem. If you’re struggling, but it seems like everyone else is capable and focused, it can feel like you’re the only one unable to cope. This can trigger feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. The mental toll of spending vast amounts of time on social media are well reported, with studies showing that constantly comparing yourself with your peers directly affects your self-confidence. For people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) the impact on self-esteem can be even more pronounced.
If all of the above weren’t enough, digital overload can have physical health consequences even beyond the bodily effects of stress. Constantly looking at a screen can cause bad posture, eyestrain, and headaches. There’s even a name for the eye problems that can result from too much screen time: computer vision syndrome. What’s more, digital overload increases the risk of road traffic accidents. In 2014, the National Safety Council estimated that about one in four car crashes was caused by smartphone or cellphone use.
What is a digital detox?
Digital detox vacations are becoming an increasingly popular antidote to information overload. From health spas to walking holidays, digital detoxes offer a valuable escape, providing people with a healing break from digital technology that refreshes the body and mind. Nature is often a key component of any detox. Other digital detoxes promote human interaction and connection.
Whether you go on a silent nature retreat or merely switch off your phone for the weekend, a digital detox can help you de-stress by forcing you to be fully present in each moment, savoring the sights, scenery, and experiences around you.