beyond the germs themselves, smartphones can rob us of our
quiet time
, which our brains need to improve creativity, productivity, attention and memories. according to
joseph eliezer
, a registered psychotherapist, clinical counsellor and author based in british columbia, downtime is important to our health and wellbeing as it can help us rest, process and integrate our thoughts and emotions, which he says, are often more congruent with who we are at our core.
“much like dreaming, downtime can be used as a tool for psychological housekeeping,” says eliezer. “the more we make use of downtime, the more productive we can become when trying to live our best lives, and be our best selves.”
he warns that in the long run, not having downtime can be a significant contributor to increased feelings of anxiety, a deepening sense of depression, intensified feelings of isolation and decreased capacity to have meaningful connections with self and others.
“if we don’t prioritize downtime, our minds, lives, and relationships can become cluttered and confusing, leaving us to feel like we’re always running after, but seldom catch up to ourselves,” says eliezer.
chronic phone use can put stress on our hands, neck, spine, and our respiratory function. researchers found that
respiratory function
lowers in a slumped sitting position, and most people hunch over their cell phones while using it. luckily, the smartphone slump can be reversed with
targeted exercises
and by holding the phone at eye level or using it while lying down.