We have become too dependent on computers and modern software. Whether you’re a part of an accounting, logistics, or marketing department, you must utilize these solutions to simplify your daily workflow and increase productivity. Unfortunately, high tech does come with a high price.
Computers have an extremely negative impact on our mental and physical well-being. They affect our eyes, back, shoulders, and brain, sometimes causing long-lasting consequences. This is why companies place bigger and bigger emphasis on digital wellness policies.
In this article, we’ll explain the term and what makes it so important. We’ll also provide a few tips that will improve the health of your staff while working behind the desk.
What is Digital Wellness?
In many ways, digital wellness sounds like a paradox. In the end, people who spend too much time in front of their computers usually suffer numerous psychological and physical issues.
“We use this term to refer to all the wellness improvements computers and mobile devices bring to our lives,” according to Belleisle psychotherapy services. “When using technology, it is vital that we introduce healthy boundaries that would prevent us from spending too much time behind the screen.”
Aside from moderating our usage, the secret of digital wellness comes in the form of tech-driven tools. This type of software can eliminate or reduce all the noise that overwhelms us while addressing daily tasks. Through digital wellness, you’re able to enhance focus, reduce stress, and improve work-life balance.
The Challenges of Digital Wellbeing
The modern way of living is anything but healthy. If we set aside common physical issues, such as a bad back and a lack of mobility, there are still problems like mental overload.
People working in modern offices are forced to stare at their screens for around 40 to 50 hours each week. Even when they get home, they often stay glued to these machines, which further deteriorate their vision while causing severe mental fatigue.
These are just a few things that employees have to think of:
- Increased stress: Today, we’re all connected in one big global economy. So, employees working in tech companies (but also other industries) are forced to work extra hard to stay afloat. This leads to absurd work hours and frequent burnouts.
- Reduced focus: Having all this noise around us is never a good thing. Just as you start focusing on the task at hand, a new email pops up on your computer. These interruptions can be suffocating at times, severely affecting your focus and the ability to meet deadlines.
- Reduced creativity: We’re served new, intriguing content on a daily basis. Instead of innovating, we take what we’re offered. Although the way we consume content is convenient, it causes irreparable damage to our creativity. The issue is especially noticeable in young people who haven’t tried inventing things by themselves.
- Physical issues: As mentioned, being in front of your screen for days on end can’t be good for your body. The biggest problem comes in the form of eye strain. For example, most programmers and digital marketers eventually end up wearing glasses. However, we also can’t neglect the issues with our posture and occasional headaches.
4 Ways to Enhance Digital Wellbeing
The good news is that companies quickly caught up to the disastrous consequences of tech overuse. Although computers and software helped their employees finish various tasks in a fraction of the time, the same people were exhausted by this type of work. As a result, many businesses have introduced the following tactics to improve staff well-being.
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Introduce Boundaries
Moderation is the best way to address tech overuse. Each employee has to schedule their daily activities and consider how tech can deter them from achieving their goals. More importantly, they should avoid opening emails after work or using work-related software.
Not only should your staff limit their consumption, but they should also be aware of how certain actions affect them. For example, spending too much time on social media is bound to have a negative impact on productivity. So, if they’re closing a deadline, they should force themselves to stay away from these sites.
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Eliminate Negative Actions
A lot of things we do on a daily basis have a severely negative impact on our mental well-being. To tackle the issue, we should first determine what causes us the most stress. Then, we need to eliminate these programs and activities, if possible.
Having excessively long meetings at the start of the day without achieving anything is a good example. Another negative action is setting deadlines that only a handful of employees can meet (if any). We must also create workflows that would simplify cooperation within teams and between departments.
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Use Wearable Tech
Wearable devices and apps can make a world of positive difference in the workplace. These gadgets and programs show us how much sleep we’re getting and whether we’re active enough, while also measuring our heart rate. The best thing is that you can use them on and off work.
Some companies even introduce gamification to encourage the use of tech. For example, they will provide incentives to staffers who manage to maintain certain health parameters (blood pressure, sugar, number of walking steps, etc.)
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Introduce Ergonomic Support
Computers force us to sit all day long, with our hands stretched forward. This imposes a lot of stress on our back and shoulder areas. People doing office work usually incur more injuries than field workers, which is absurd. They also suffer from conditions such as kyphosis.
To address this problem, many businesses introduce workstations with modern ergonomic support. This type of equipment comes with integrated devices that moderate work hours. They force staffers to take breaks and exercise to protect their lumbar areas and legs from injuries.
Conclusion
Digital wellness policies are vital not only for the functioning of employees but also for modern companies. They reduce the strain on our bodies and brains, which also reduces burnout and serious physical injuries. By following the simple tips in this article, you’ll be able to eliminate these issues at their root.
