We are living in the most comfortable time in history, and researchers are looking into how technological advances are affecting humans. Every aspect of our lives is changing at alarming rates, but does it align with our physical and psychological needs? Let’s look into how modern lifestyle is affecting us, and what we can do to counteract it.
Isolation And Psychological Effects
Despite having more means of contacting others, people are experiencing more loneliness than ever. While the average Facebook user has over 300 friends, they rarely talk to more than a few of them. The sense of isolation increases when users experience FOMO – fear of missing out – when they see everyone else post their vacations and achievements online.
How To Prevent It
Social media shouldn’t be a replacement for a healthy social life but should be a means to bring people closer together. Use it as a means to make plans, look up fun romantic things to do in NYC, and turn off notifications to lessen the temptation to check a phone.
Physical Stagnation
Sedentary lifestyle, also known as the sitting disease, plagues the population today. With ridesharing services, transportation everywhere, and desk jobs, we are rarely engaging in physical activity required to stay healthy. People who are inactive run a higher risk of cancer, depression, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and more.
How To Prevent It
Avoid sitting whenever it is possible and set goals to walk every day. The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise per week. Anything that gets people moving improves their overall health and quality of life.
Overeating And Poor Nutrition
In today’s world, we have food available for us 24/7 delivered to our doorstep at the click of a button. Since our lives are fast-paced, people find themselves snacking whenever they can without giving much thought about what they are eating. The easy access to processed foods are the leading cause of our poor eating habits, but it can be fixed.
How To Prevent It
For those that are concerned about their eating habits, start a food journal to keep track of meals and eating times. Steer clear of crash diets because they are not proven to be safe or sustainable. Talk to a nutritionist for more information.
Sleep Loss
Sleep deprivation is such a severe issue that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers it a public health epidemic. Several causes attribute to the lack of sleep, and it can lead to a series of short term and long term health problems.
How To Prevent It
Avoid consuming high levels of sugar or caffeine before bedtime, and try to go to bed at the same time every night. Avoid being on the phone in bed, as it keeps our brains wired and the screens affect our production of melatonin.
Take a Good Look at Your Habits
With all this information we should be taking a long hard look at our habits and monitoring how much they are affecting our lives. It may be time to make a few changes before it’s too late and modernity has a devastating effect on society in the near future.