By Cary Grant 
We’ve all embraced technology and its benefits, as it makes our lives easier. But rarely do we speak about the hidden dangers these modern devices pose. Particularly, we rarely think about posture and the fact that we’re hunched over our phones all the time. Poor posture can affect how we perform daily, how much we move, and how we feel. In order not to overlook the consequences of technology on posture, we’ll list out the most common consequences and suggestions on how to mitigate them.
Sedentary behaviour
Because we rely on technology to do our work, we mostly sit during our work hours. Not only that but when we get home, most people spend some additional time in front of a screen, increasing prolonged sitting. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to posture-related health issues. To fight the consequences of sitting a lot, incorporate regular movement breaks into your day. Set reminders to stand up, move a bit, stretch, and walk around, ensuring your muscles stay engaged and your posture remains dynamic.
Screen time
On average, people spend up to seven hours a day on their screens. While the recommendation is to limit screen time to just two hours outside of work time, rarely do people achieve this. This is probably because they don’t even know their screen time habits and how they affect their lives. The negative effect of lengthy screen time is the occurrence of a so-called text neck.
This is because when we’re on our phones, texting or scrolling, we look downward, causing continuous strain on our necks. The best practice to combat the effect of a downward gaze is to look at something for a minute that is five metres away from you, so something in the distance. Do this every twenty minutes. You’ll lift up your gaze and train your eyes to accommodate to something in the distance, relieving the strain on your eyes.
Gaming effect on posture
Gaming is a fun activity that, unfortunately, leads to prolonged sitting, which puts a person into the category of a sedentary lifestyle. Prolonged sitting can take a toll on your spine and cause back issues. If you’re experiencing back issues, like many people in Australia, it might be time to visit a back specialist. Consulting with a back specialist in Brisbane or any other city can be the wake-up call to stop playing as much and start taking breaks during prolonged gaming sessions.
Constant availability
Technology can be synonymous with constant availability as we use several apps to communicate with different people. By being in a state of constant availability, we communicate with people through texts, likes, comments, and even by sharing reels. When we’re engaged in such activities, we’re on our phones thus, we’re in one position. Arms are at ninety degrees, and gazes are lowered; thus, our necks and shoulders are strained, contributing to existing posture and back issues. To combat this, practice mindful phone usage by holding your device at eye level and taking regular breaks to stretch your neck and shoulders. Consider using voice-to-text features to reduce the need for prolonged typing.
Social media
Social media might also be the reason your back hurts a lot. Even if you chuckled a bit while reading this sentence, we cannot deny the effect social media has on our lifestyles. It’s also another screen-time activity brought to us through technological advancements, keeping us glued to our screens for hours. On top of that, we aren’t even aware of the positions we sit in, impacting both physical and mental well-being. Combat these effects by setting time limits on social media usage and try to engage with online content more mindfully by consuming what is good for your mental health. Take breaks to move your body and realign your posture, focusing on maintaining an upright position.
Workstation
Workstation setup is also the key to keeping your posture upright, tight, and healthy. Poor chair quality, improper desk height, and sitting in a slouching manner all lead to posture issues. Adjustable chairs and monitor stands, and ergonomic office furniture designed to support you are the key to combating these issues.
Lastly, it is our responsibility to assess our habits and see how technology is impacting our health. Take regular breaks, prioritise movement, and invest in proper workstation equipment to support your body and promote lifelong posture health.