The digital age has brought a revolution. But, it has a flip side to it, filling people with anxiety, stress, and unsaid pressure. Hence, in this blog, you will get 10 practical tips to help you handle this stress well.
Scrolling social media, finding new friends, chatting with them, and so much more are just a few clicks away. All this seems exciting, fascinating, and a true testimony to the modern digital age.
Just as you feel nothing can be better, reality hits hard when you realize this comes with multiple downsides. It brings information overload, digital fatigue, privacy concerns, cybersecurity threats, and social comparisons, among other concerns.
Although these words may seem simple, their impact on human life is ever-changing. It’s to an extent that many individuals have chosen to end their lives due to it.
If you are experiencing something similar, you are at the right place. In this blog, we will tell you how to understand that you are experiencing the pressure of the digital age and how to overcome it.
The Digital Age Pressure: 10 Ways to Handle this Stress
There is not much discussion about the pressures of the digital age and the stress linked with it. So, it’s expected that the symptoms related to digital age pressure can go unnoticed. But, to help you identify it, I have listed the most common indicators of digital age stress:
- Constantly feeling overwhelmed by the high volume of information and notifications.
- A common habit of obsessively checking your phone’s notification every ‘Ping.’
- Experiencing anxiety after using Social Media or the internet for more extended hours
- Feel a sense of inadequacy or a FOMO by comparing your life to others online
- Physical symptoms like eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep patterns
- Difficulty in setting boundaries between work-related digital communication and personal time
- Decrease in face-to-face social interactions and increase in online interactions
These are some of the common and significant indicators of Digital Age stress that you need to tackle for mental peace promptly.
10 Ways to Handle the Digital Age Pressure
No matter how hard you try to avoid using or influencing social media or the internet, it is not easy. Thus, here are ten actionable ways to handle the stress of the digital age:
1. Set Specific Days for Digital Off
Whenever you feel overwhelmed with work or stress, you take a break as it’s the best way to relieve the overwhelming feeling and rejuvenate.
Likewise, you can use social media and the internet. Identity when you feel overwhelmed or pressured by social media, a break can help you overcome it.
The best way is to dedicate specific days or hours in a week for your digital breaks. It will help you disconnect from all digital devices to relax. Also, you can take this time to engage in your favorite hobbies and spend quality time with your loved ones.
2. Make Mindful Use of Technology
Do you ever go through a situation where you open your phone for some work and find yourself automatically scrolling social media? It is a common situation that highlights your social media and phone addiction.
To get rid of it, you must practice mindful use of technology. It means controlling what you do with the time you spend online.
You can implement it by setting a specific time for checking emails and social media that won’t make you spend unnecessary time on it.
At the same time, it will help you avoid constant notifications. This way, you can set uninterrupted time for using the internet and leisure.
3. Designate Screen-Free Zones
Do you find yourself commonly using your phone while lying on the bed, while eating, and working? If so, you have included your screens in every part of your life, which adds to your digital pressures. It can become an unavailable part of your life, i.e., addiction.
To avoid this situation, you can establish screen-free zones in some areas of your home. It can be like a dining table or bedroom.
It will help you regain and improve your focus on face-to-face interactions. Moreover, it will help you recover the digital free relaxation in your life that you have left long since.
4. Go for Regular Nature Walks
Statistics reveal that about 90% of the day or even higher (92%, in some studies ) is spent inside. This time indoors can be spent in your home, offices, cafés, restaurants, or anywhere else. Also, the use of phones or digital screens is a constant companion while you are indoors.
You don’t realize it, but it has a significant impact on your mental Health. So, it’s a wise choice to spend your time outdoors, away from screens, by taking regular nature walks.
The greenery and soothing aspect of Nature have a calming effect on your mind that can help you reduce the digital age stress in your life.
5. Practice Digital Declutter
Clutter, whether at your home, office, work desk, cupboard, or your mind, causes stress and irritation.
Similarly, clutter in your digital life can cause pressure and discomfort—for instance, unorganized files, unnecessary texts, unused apps, or even tons of promotional emails.
You may plan to organize it ‘someday’ that never comes. So, the best solution is to set specific periods and implement it to declutter your digital life.
You can do it by organizing files, deleting unused apps, and unsubscribing from irrelevant emails. A clutter-free digital space can promote a sense of calm, both in your mind and your digital workspace.
6. Try Mindfulness Meditation
You often find yourself drawn between the memories of the past and the uncertainty of the future that gives you anxiety.
Given these situations, there has been a rising trend of mindful meditation that emphasizes focusing on the present moment for productivity and happiness.
The same method can help you get over the digital pressure as well. You can practice mindfulness meditation to reduce stress and increase awareness with mindful breathing exercises. Apart from lowering your digital-related anxiety, it will even help you increase your focus.
7. Try your hands on Creative Outlets
Earlier, everyone had a common habit of drawing, writing, or learning something creative during their free time or leisure breaks. But, presently, you find yourself dedicating that time to scrolling social media, viewing reels, or watching YouTube videos.
It’s high time to switch and bring back your creative outlets into your daily routine. You can engage in creative activities like drawing, painting, writing, or playing a musical instrument.
These activities positively impact your mind and serve as an outlet for stress. Moreover, it will be an excellent way to channel your energy towards something useful and reduce your screen time.
8. Set a Tech-free Bedtime Routine
Do you use social media and the internet when you lie down to sleep? If so, you must know it severely impacts your health, mind, and eyes.
Consequently, it’s necessary to get rid of this habit by setting a tech-free bedtime routine. At this time, you avoid screens at least an hour before sleep to improve sleep quality.
Furthermore, it helps to reduce the negative impact of blue light on your circadian rhythm, benefiting your overall health.
9. Organise Digital Detox Challenges in Your Group
Digital detox is a common word in this digital age, yet it’s not a new concept. Since old times, detoxification or removal of toxic substances has been done to improve the mental and physical health of a person—for instance, an alcohol detox or a junk food detox.
People often plan to do such things but do not do them due to procrastination or other reasons. To save the day, you can organize digital detox challenges with your friends or family.
In this, you can set specific goals to reduce screen time and reward yourself for achieving them. It will help you build a supportive environment for yourself and your groups.
10. Increase Face-to-Face Interactions
Earlier, people used to have family gatherings every week or at least 2 to 3 times a day to stay in touch with their loved ones. Social media has made it easy to create WhatsApp groups, have video calls, or stay “connected” on Facebook. However, it has reduced the number of face-to-face interactions.
You may choose chatting or calling the person rather than meeting them for convenience. But, on the whole, digital solutions have reduced the warmth of human connections. They have punctured the essence of efforts people make to maintain their relationships.
You can bring back the balance by prioritizing face-to-face social interactions. Plan outings, game nights, or dinners with your friends and family. It will help you strengthen your social connections beyond your mobile phones and laptop screens, taking it outside the digital realm into the real world.
Conclusion
Living in a digital age is both a boon and a bane. Digital devices have become an essential source of stress and pressure that is taking a toll on the mental as well as physical health of people.
To ensure that you aren’t a victim, you must identify the digital age pressure. It is crucial to help you maintain your mental and emotional well-being in today’s fast-paced world.
Further, these ten actionable strategies can help you effectively manage the stressors of the digital age and promote a healthier and more aligned lifestyle.
