Finding Balance: Nurturing Your Nervous System in a Digital World
In a world where screens dominate our daily lives, it can be challenging to carve out moments of peace for our nervous systems.
As a team of holistic, nature-based therapists, we know firsthand the impact excessive* screen time can have on our mental well-being.
Keep reading to discover how much screen time is too much for your nervous system.
This is getting scary and it could get really bad for folks. Let me explain.
The non-stop barrage of screens bombarding us each day can overwhelm our nervous systems, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation. Understanding the relationship between screen time and our well-being is essential in cultivating a healthier, more balanced life.
* Excessive can be defined by some as more than 2 hours a day, now we know that some of our clients report consuming upwards of 6 hours of screen time a day. This might be considered excessive. We will never tell you how much screen time is too much for your unique system. We will however guide you to explore your physical signs with curiosity.
We consume more in a week than our hunter-gather ancestors did in their lifetime.
Simply put, our primitive nervous systems are not ready for this much sitting and scrolling.
5 questions to ask yourself so that you can be more mindful with your screen:
Awareness: Recognize your signs of screen time overload and its effects on your nervous system. Our clients describe this as being quick to irritate, trying to numb out with screens and using screens to regulate (when they know something like walking or making art would help them feel so much better).
1. Does your body clench and contract when scrolling past certain topics/themes on social media?
Boundaries: Set and keep screen time boundaries that work for you.
2. Ideally, how much time do you want to be looking at a screen (outside of work)?
Mindfulness: It is possible to use technology in a mindful way. We can benefit from the guidance and resources shared by our favorite Instagram accounts and use our screen time for positive interactions and building community. However, if we come across content that triggers or upsets us, we can choose to unfollow or mute those accounts. Remember, you don't owe anyone on the internet your attention or engagement, and most likely they won't even notice if you stop following them.
3. Who can you mute or unfollow?
Swap: Pro therapist tip, you could swap 20 minutes of screen time for time in nature and restore your nervous system's equilibrium.
4. What time of day is easiest for you to get outside?
Empathy: Practicing self-compassion and acceptance when you notice you’ve gone over your limits.
5. How can you be kind to yourself when you’ve used screens too much?
