THE NEGATIVE TECH EFFECTS ON THE BUSY BODY; HOW POSTURE CAN SAVE US ALL
30 December by Alessa Caridi
Our technology gets smaller, faster, and increasingly more essential every day. The tech that was once only used in the workplace is now in every aspect of our lives. From the first thing we do in the morning to the last thing we look at before we close our eyes.
Technology enables us to accomplish tasks and stay up to date on current events in a fraction of the time it took 10 years ago. Our technology helps us feel closer to loved ones who may not live in the same time zone. And, our little social devices provide entertainment wherever our busy lives may take us.
So, how could something so beneficial be a negative? I would like to challenge you to not think about WHAT we are interacting with, but instead look at HOW as the negative tech effects. And, what if you had the ability to keep away the negatives of technology before they began? (And I am not asking you to unplug or even use your tech less.) Would you make the effort to protect before the negatives creep in?
The negatives that I am speaking about:
- We lean on technology, but there is really nothing there to hold us up. We make our posture smaller to physically get closer to what we are looking at. Leaning forward and shrinking our shoulder may help us see what's on the screen better, but it is having horrible effects on our bodies. Technology will never be there to hold you up, so it is time to start looking at your body before you look at the screen.
“More than 80 percent of Americans will experience an episode of low back pain at some time in their lives..”, states a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study.
- Technology doesn’t make us tired, sitting does. Yes, posture is king and can give you the stamina to sit for longer than before. But, that doesn’t mean you SHOULD. In fact, for every hour you spend sitting you should spend 10 minutes standing. Our bodies were not designed to sit for long periods of time. And yes, there is such a thing as screen fatigue, but when you are in the curled position that sitting puts you in, and- without a doubt- your breathing begins to slow, your body will begin to enter into sleep mode. And that will make you lethargic, tired, and unproductive.
- Technology has gotten smaller, but not lighter. As these useful things get smaller we have found ways to add news gadgets. For example: our phones have gotten small enough to fit in our pockets, but also too small to read for long periods of time. So, we add a device specifically for reading on, like a Kindle or Nook. And we have effectively just added another 2-5Lbs to our person. Now HOW we carry the bag our technology is in becomes important.
Also try JŨbu-Tip #438: Put these little heavy things closest to your body in the bag you are carrying, and when you are waiting for a bus or talking to a friend or just standing still, save your spine by just putting the bag down.
So, why is body pain increasing at the speed of technology?
Let’s not play the blame game and let’s stop focusing on negative tech effects.
Instead, let us fix our posture.
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