Technology is an important and useful part of our lives. But how does it affect our health? How to find happiness and good health by stepping away from your iPhone.

Remember when we used to leave home without a phone? Needing to make a call while out and about meant searching for the nearest pay phone or begging a store owner for one quick call.

Those days are well behind us. Now, not only do we have the convenience of communication on the go, but we can barely be without it. Highly useful, yes. But how does this constant tech access affect our health and happiness?

Last week we talked about how to find happiness by taming monkey mind, that incessant chatter in our heads, and the feeling of calm and focus it brings. One tip we covered was unplugging and the benefits found via the Bored and Brilliant campaign. Participants were given daily challenges over the course of one week to prompt phone detachment and enhance creativity.

So, through the campaign, Manoush Zomorodi (who also hosts Well and Good NYC’s New Tech City podcast) discovered that less tech in our daily lives leads to better concentration and peace of mind. The data shows that “boredom is crucial to the creative process.” I’m not so sure single-tasking equals boredom, but I get where they are going with this.

The data from the campaign showed that the average person spends approximately 64 minutes on their phone daily. Easily, right? That means checking the device 2 to 3 times every hour. We’ve all had those days or weekends where we spend inordinate amounts of time checking an app or messages, only to be left with tech hangover. You know, that wide eyed, bewildered, slightly manic feeling? Sure you do.

Interestingly, many participants of the campaign have a creative project or dream they’d love to complete but feel they don’t have enough time to work on it. Of the 16 percent who feel they spend “just the right amount of time” on their phones, only one percent said their phone is usually in their hand. So those not feeling like partakers of the phone time-suck are stowing them away in their bags or somewhere else out of sight.

Added time, greater creativity, and increased productivity account for the happiness boost from unplugging. But how about what tech overload is doing to our health?

There are the less serious, but still annoying, physical signs of device overuse, like tech neck and text thumb. But more serious health issues need to be taken into consideration before it’s too late.

Vision problems from looking at a tiny screen are a real problem, especially for kids. Some children tend to lock into screen time with uber focus. Spending prolonged periods staring at a screen can lead to blurry vision, eye irritation, and headaches. Set time limits on viewing and remind your kids when time is up. They are unlikely to come up for air on their own.

Most of us have experienced some level of increased health anxiety due to the Internet. I recently saw an image on Instagram that said something like “I have a stomach ache, WebMD says I’m dying.” Been there? Me too. The side effects of over-Googling every last physical symptom you have, and the fear it instills, may seem like an emotional issue. But we know stress is linked to many real health problems. Take all information you find online with a grain of salt. Remember, it’s pretty much impossible to diagnosis someone over the Internet. If you are truly concerned about your health, get yourself to your doctor for a check.

A study done by Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina in Columbia found a link between tech and an increase in obesity. And those most affected are women. Compared to women of earlier (pre smart phone) decades, who spent much of their time doing housework, today’s women are far less active, due in large part to tech viewing. Leaders of the study are quick to point out that they are not suggesting women need to do more housework, but that they may need to set limits on computer time and get more active.

If you’ve been having a hard time falling or staying asleep, this could also be due to screen overload. It is harder to sleep when the mind is wired from scrolling through Facebook or checking email one last time. Set a tech cutoff time each day. Put your devices away and pick up a good old-fashioned book.

Computers and other devices are not bad. They keep us informed and connected. Hey, many of us even need them to make a living. Like most good things, moderation is key. Don’t let tech rob you of family time, happiness, or your health. Set yourself some limits.

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Image of woman looking at phone via Shutterstock

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Congrats, you’ve officially survived the holidays – and there are plenty of ways to relax to celebrate.

I’m a firm believer that how you spend the first day of a new year sets the tone for the rest of the year. And unless you’re insane, you don’t want to spend another year filled with stress, overwhelm and worry; you want to spend your time how you’ve always wanted to, amiright?

Just because your life isn’t exactly how you want it to be doesn’t mean you can’t start taking the baby steps to get there – and one of the first things you need to kick to the curb is all that stress you keep piling onto yourself. Starting now.

Here are 9 ways to relax to start your new year off right:

1. Stay in bed as long as you want

Don’t let your mind fill up with “I should do this” or “I have to do that.” Today, you shouldn’t and you don’t have to.

2. Have a leisurely breakfast

Make the breakfast you’d make for yourself if only you had more time – because today you do. Do some reading, listen to music, and you know, chew.

3. Get all dolled up

Take a relaxing shower and put on your favorite outfit of all time. Look through all those braided hairstyles and makeup techniques you have bookmarked and give them a whirl.

4. Take a time out

The best part of a day off is not being aware of what time it is – and not giving a… well, you know. Do whatever you feel compelled to do in the moment to get back in touch with your instincts: Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thirsty, nap when you’re tired.

5. Unplug

You’re going to be tempted to check your email and check for texts and phone calls – do everything you can to resist the urge. This is your day that you’ve earned and then some. Don’t let the outside world poo poo all over it.

6. Pack up your worries

If you’re anything like me, taking a day off is really hard. In fact, sometimes it feels more stressful than working. If this is the case for you, take anything work-related that might steer you away from the ways to relax you have planned – your cell, your laptop, your to-do list – and put them in a box. Write down anything left undone, any loose ends you need to tie, and anything you’re worrying about and throw them in the box too. Now hide the box under your bed. (This sounds weird, but it’s wildly liberating!)

7. Choose an activity

What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but never have time for? See a movie? Browse the aisles of a bookstore? Meet a long lost friend for coffee? Start redecorating your home? The key is to not plan your afternoon, but do what your heart tells you to right that second.

8. Try a new recipe

Don’t just have any old dinner. Today you can cook without having to rush your way through the process. Throw on some tunes and make yourself a restaurant-worthy meal.

9. Go to bed early

Head to bed with a good book and make a pact that from now on you’re going to steal time away from your stressful routine and bask in doing nothing way more often.

What are your favorite ways to relax?

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Image: Gabriela Pinto

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Mother/Daughter founders Judy Pezdir and Jill Palermo of WE ADD UP

WE ADD UP is a progressive global campaign utilizing organic cotton t-shirts as a tool to count you in the fight against global warming.

Every shirt is printed by hand with a number representing your place in the sequential global count of all the people who are taking steps to help stop climate change. On the back of each shirt is a word or phrase that describes an action wearers promote to reduce their carbon footprint – Unplug, Lights Off, Carpool, Hybrid, Bike, Buy Local and 18 others.

Created by mother-daughter team Judy Pezdir and Jill Palermo, WE ADD UP’s goal is to get millions of people around the world counted in and committed to helping stop global warming.

I recently caught up with Jill Palermo.

We Add up started how?

My Mom and I were having dinner out at a restaurant. I was feeling kinda hopeless and overwhelmed about everything – and trying to hide my tears behind my wine glass. I felt very alone in this feeling and then had a burst of inspiration – I bet other people feel this way, too. Maybe alone our efforts don’t seem like much, but together we do add up.

Out of your 24 shirts the “Shower Together” t-shirt is most popular. Kitschy or do you think people really are?

Trust me, people really are. We do green events all around the country where I get to meet lots of folks and I know a little too much about a lot of people. “Shower Together” is a conversation-starter, perhaps more than any of the tees, and that’s the whole point of the project. So, we think it’s effective, if not over-sharing.

Do you think the success of the best-selling t-shirts is a predictor for green trends?

Absolutely. For example, we’ve been surprised how many people are composting, which is great.  People usually pick from our 29 actions the one they are most passionate about, so it does become a barometer of green trends. Our top-selling actions, besides Shower Together, are: Plant Trees, Recycle, Bike, Buy Local, Drink Tap, Compost, and Demand Change.

Tell me about some of the fundraising efforts We Add Up has been a part of.

First of all, we offer We Add Up as a fundraising program for schools and non-profits. So far, over 100 groups have participated in our online and offline fundraisers. Basically, a group signs up. It’s free to start and free to run. They sell the shirts to their community, inviting them to choose a green action to commit to. And, they receive 15% of the sale.

We have contests and cash prizes for top sellers, too. It’s a replacement fundraiser for candy and wrapping paper, giving environmental clubs in schools an opportunity to raise money while also raising awareness about the environment. Secondly, We Add Up partners with a different non-profit for each t-shirt. $1-3 is donated for each shirt sold to a group that is working on the solution the shirt promotes. Some of our current partners include Sustainable Harvest International, The Green Project in New Orleans, and Take Back the Tap.

What’s your first reaction to the question: “Are you a retailer, a champion for a cause or an entrepreneur?

Yes.

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