Dr. Jyoti Kapoor, Senior Psychiatrist and Founder of Manasthali.
This is a digital age, we know it, we observe it, we follow it and eventually we get affected by it. But how it affects us or impacts depends upon how we use the digital tools. And unless we know all the implications, positive as well as negative of a certain process, we won’t be able to make the choice that differentiates between well-being and ill being.
So what is Digital wellness, keeping the myriad definitions aside, it’s simply about living with digital age while maintaining our physical, mental and social health.
Digital age or Information Age as it’s often called signifies availability of huge amounts of information to a large population through digital or information technology. Like any other tool available at our disposable, it’s not the technology itself but how it is used is what will define the impact. Unscrupulous use of technology has progressively created huge amounts of stress amongst us. The digital and social media is a nagging concern among children and adults due to its ability to spread misinformation and negative information at lightening speed which doesn’t give enough time to one to process information and reactions rather than rationalisation are now the major form of communication. The addictive potential of such platforms and neglect of personal and physical activities is now well known and a cause of health issues in current generation. The technology which should be used to serve our needs is increasingly deciding how we live our lives, spending more time on phone or Netflix, identifying with our ability to make a mark with followers on Instagram, achieving a certain level in a multiplayer online game, keeping up with latest technology, spending hours to close a deal in USA while family sleeps are all the ways we allow us to be led by technology than vice Versa.
How we achieve digital well being is primarily about finding a balance between different aspects of our life in an environment characterised by information over abundance.
Some simple steps can help us find our balance-
- Stop justifying the use of digital technology at every step, we can switch off phones, we can turn away from internet, we can stop watching news, it’s possible.
- Set priorities straight, what’s important, peace or competition, winning or living, enjoying simple things in life or posting pictures for all to know what we are doing.
- Curtail expectations, what is important for someone else may not be important for you and vice versa. Focus on what makes you comfortable or satisfied than indulging in comparisons generated by too much of what’s available out there and what needs to be explored.
- Focus on real world experience rather than virtual experiences. Engage with real people, real plants, real nature rather than technology driven photoshopped memories.
- Manage time, work is only a part of you and luxury is not bought with money but with experiences.
