Dixya Poudel

In an era of technological advancement, there are also dangers of digital blights. Throughout the day whether at work or home, we are constantly at the beck and call of our smartphones. While androids and iPhones have certainly enabled us to reach out and connect, it has also led us to a fatigue. As such, digital fatigue refers to the stress, anxiety and exhaustion caused by aconstant screen time.

As COVID-19 pandemic enters two years, the world is at an economic downturn which means the upcoming generations are at a precarious position.The pandemic has adversely affected the youth who have become susceptible to an unpredictable future. In the meantime, the working class is at the brink of stress related illnesses. Although vaccination has provided a relief, the world has altered significantly while the pandemic spread its damages.

And one of them is certainly digital fatigue in which an increasing number of people have found themselves bound to their mobile phones whether for work or family life. Even children found themselves spending more time on screen for their school work. As for adults, they have found digital communication to be quite indispensible.
Personal and professional lives today have converged while the pandemic is yet to be fully contained. While working from home, we have let our professional lives seep into our personal lives. From making to-do lists to brainstorming, technology is a must. Business meetings have been carried out in the living rooms via the screens. Meanwhile, we make notes on our phones that are related to work in our family time. And we surreptitiously check for our text messages in between Zoom meetings. This sort of back and forth between personal and work life has drained our general productivity.

And an increasing number of people are on the cusp of mental illnesses that must be addressed. According to health experts, it might be worse before the mental health crisis abates. It doesn’t help that the onscreen time takes away most of the productive hours in the case of the unemployed. Digital access might have expedited communication but people are incrementally complaining of loneliness, anxiety and depression. Face to face conversation has its own merit and substituting it with digital communication has proven to be less effective.
Digitalisation is thought to be a boon and it certainly has shown its ubiquity during these trying times. But the problem arises when it begins to rule over our lives.What can thus be done to alleviate stress and fatigue related to digital technology? First of all, it is vital to acknowledge that excessive screen time is detrimental to our mental health. While it may not be feasible to completely disconnect from technology as we might need it to smoothly navigate our lives, it is necessary to curb screen time.

Quality family time should mean no scrolling down the phones. Likewise, reaching out to one another for emotional support can help as well. If the mental health spirals, it might be important to seek professional help. Digital outreach is growing at an exponential rate which is why there are concerns over its excessive usage. Further, digitalisation has been invented and reinvented to make our lives easier. However, it must be ensured that it doesn’t consume our lives, including our health.