As a kid, I'd spend hours climbing trees, building forts, and picking up bugs. Nature had a calming, restorative effect. It was where I belonged.
Back then, spending time outside was what normal kids did. They'd disappear out the front door after breakfast and come back when the street lights came on—dinner time. Children spent their time running around with each other, inventing games, and nurturing friendships.
Today, the lure of technology is so great that kids spend 5–7 hours a day in front of screens. We are now learning that excessive screen time disrupts sleep patterns, makes people more susceptible to anxiety and depression, and increases our risk of being overweight.
In young children, time in front of screens can have disastrous consequences, like fueling anger and tantrums. It can alter sensory reactions, contribute to learning problems, and cause developmental delays.
One study found that toddlers learned 1,139 fewer words, spoke less, and had fewer conversations due to time spent in front of screens. Health agencies in some countries have gone so far as to recommend no screen time at all for children under 2.
Adults are not immune to the temptation of technology. Although many of us sit in front of computers for work, we still use screens in our leisure time to relax. However, increased screen time has adverse effects, both physical and psychological. Research shows that it can rob us of everyday pleasures like enjoying a good meal. Our sedentary behavior is also a problem, and one-third of the global population older than 15 doesn't get enough exercise, increasing the risk of a long list of diseases from diabetes to cancer.
Sunlight
The rise of technology has driven our growing disconnect from the natural world. We now spend more time indoors and less time immersed in nature's rhythms...
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