Make Your Splash by Laura Harris Smith

Author:Laura Harris Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Living/Spiritual Growth;Vocation—Christianity;Professions—Religious aspects—Christianity;Vocational guidance;Christian life;REL012120;REL012140;REL012070
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2023-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Head above Water—Doctor’s Orders

1. What are my health risks in this river?

According to its website, Mobi Health News provides analysis, news and data to health innovators and pharma companies who are seeking to stay ahead of the sickness curve, to contextualize emerging health issues and to shape what’s next in healthcare. In an article found there entitled “Lumo: 60 percent of workers have tech-related health problems,” Mobi quoted Lumo Body Tech’s cofounder and CEO as saying,

Because our mission is to improve the health of humanity in this digital era, we think it’s critically important for everyone who uses technology gadgets—at home and at work—to understand what this data says about technology and our health and to use this data as a call to action to adopt healthier tech usage habits.2

The Mobi article’s writer went on to give these statistics:

For the Lumo study, Harris [International] polled 2,019 Americans 18 or older via an online survey. Findings suggested that eye-strain was the most common tech-related affliction, affecting 36 percent of Americans, followed by back pain (30 percent), neck pain (27 percent) and headaches (24 percent). Less common complaints included wrist pain (21 percent), carpel tunnel syndrome (11 percent) and insomnia (9 percent).3

I find it interesting that men were less likely to report their technology related health issues—only 56 percent of them, whereas 63 percent of women were reaching out for help. And the problem was better in the Northeast than on the West Coast—53 percent versus 66 percent respectively. As a company sparking innovation to help with these issues, Lumo also looked at how Americans treat their technology related health ailments. Believe it or not, 44 percent turned to medication for relief, whereas only 36 percent of people decided to just reduce their tech exposure. What’s more, the article stated that “Those between 18 and 34 years old were more likely to take the time-reducing approach than their elders. They tried to cut down tech time 44 percent of the time compared to 29 percent of those aged 35 to 44 and 34 percent of those over 45.”4 These are just the physical risks, but we also know there are emotional hazards brought about by too much tech exposure, such as the negative effect on social relationships, the decrease in social skills, information overload, isolation depression, and even a decrease in cognitive development in young children who are constantly exposed to technological stimulation. Keep in mind that the above study was just for the general population . . . meaning that a career in technology comes with even greater health risks since it serves a reason that you would have even more tech exposure in this industry day in and day out.

2. How can I protect myself in this river—body, mind and spirit?

Physically: If you work on a laptop, buy a heat and radiation resistance panel to lessen continual radiation exposure (like the HARApad I use, for example). Set screen time and work boundaries that limit your tech engagement. If you work at a desk, try to get outside once a day for an “air bath.

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