Stress Awareness Month: A Calmer Digital Experience

It's no secret that our digital lives can be--well, a little stressful.

When everything from personal emails to work messages to social media and news updates are thrown together into the same mix, things are bound to get a little "loud."

While that level of inter-connectivity may be standard in 2017, the stress that can go along with it doesn't have to be. In honor of Stress Awareness Month, we're taking a look at some of the best ways to simplify your digital life (and enjoy less stress-inducing moments along the way!). Take a look.

Out with the blue

Blue can be cool, mellow, relaxing and conducive to a stress-free lifestyle--but not when it's on your computer screen.

Digital screens are known for their artificial "blue" light, which is responsible for eye strain and can prevent your body's melatonin (what makes you feel sleepy) from doing its job. The end result, as you might have guessed, is people staying up later and feeling tired when they're awake. Stress, of course, can follow periods of poor sleep--so what can you do about it? Especially since artificial light in the form of phones, TVs, and computers is so heavily ingrained into our lives?

Fortunately, there are things you can do. One tip is to install plug-ins on your devices that correspond to changes in the real-time daylight outside. (Essentially, they shift their screen hues from blue-toned to warmer, less artificial colors once the sun goes down.) This is said to help your eyes from feeling too overexposed at nighttime, leading to better sleep and more productive waking hours.

Of course, the simplest solution is to avoid exposing yourself to too much of this kind of light during the nighttime hours, when you're trying to go to sleep. Instead of bringing your phone or computer in bed, finish your work at least an hour before bed so that you can fall asleep more easily. Of course, this is a double stress-reliever because it prevents you from reading or watching things before bed that might make you feel a little less at ease.

Change your notification settings

Even when they're harmless, every notification we get on our phone can be stressful to respond to or check up on--especially when you're trying to get other tasks done. Reconsider the notification settings on your devices so that you're only told about the really important stuff (for many, that would be texts, calls, and emails) and not about your apps, news briefs, and more.

Embrace a vacation mindset

While it may not work with every job, many people can disconnect when they get home--they just don't! If you're able to keep the work emails and notifications at bay while at home or on the weekends, avoid being glued to your device while out of the office. There's no sense in thinking or worrying about something you can't change during off time, anyway.

See (or hear) something peaceful on your monitor

Why not use your digital tools to your advantage? If you can't make it away from your computer for most of the day, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of the outdoors through videos made expressly for calming the mind. (Popular ones include rain shower footage, rolling thunder, birds chirping, etc.).

These ideas can help you get the most out of everyday technology with ease. Our final tip? Call Vann Data today! We can help you go paperless or carry out other stress-beating measures that are sure to simplify your day-to-day routine.