If you’re reading this on your phone while also scrolling IG and tracking a DoorDash order, it might be time for a break.
Researchers found that when people blocked internet access on their smartphones for just two weeks, 91% felt better—like, significantly better. Their mental health improved, their focus sharpened and their overall well-being got a boost. Turns out, not being glued to a pocket-sized supercomputer 24/7 is actually good for you. Who knew?
We’re connected every waking moment, and our brains are paying the price. This study, involving 467 participants, proved that cutting back on phone time had effects comparable to antidepressants. Yes, really.
“What we found was that people had better mental health, better subjective well-being and better sustained attention,” Adrian Ward, a psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, explains.
In other words, stepping away from constant connectivity didn’t just feel good—it had measurable, lasting benefits.
Beyond mental health, participants also saw a surprising boost in their attention spans—equivalent to turning back the clock 10 years. Imagine regaining the ability to focus without your hand instinctively reaching for your phone every five seconds. That’s the kind of transformation we’re talking about.
Of course, no one’s saying you can just ghost the internet forever. Jobs, social lives and modern existence in general require some level of connectivity. But scaling back? That’s doable. Here’s how:
- Take short breaks. Start with 20-30 minutes of intentional phone-free time and build from there.
- Try a digital detox. Set screen-free hours—during meals, before bed or one day a week.
- Turn off notifications. If an app isn’t urgently important, silence it. Out of sight, out of mind.
- Get a dumb phone. If you’re really serious, switch to a flip phone (yes, those still exist).
- Find something better to do. Take a walk, pick up a book, call a friend. The goal is to retrain your brain to get dopamine from real life, not infinite scrolling.
Bottom line: Your phone isn’t going anywhere, but your attention span might be. Try giving it a break and see what happens. You might just remember what life felt like before we all became screen zombies.
Title: Study Reveals Reducing Screen Time Has the Same Effect as Antidepressants
URL: https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech-gaming/study-reveals-reducing-screen-time-has-the-same-effect-as-antidepressants/
Source: REL ::: RELEVANT
Source URL: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/rss/relevantmagazine.xml
Date: February 24, 2025 at 11:38PM
Feedly Board(s): Religion