The lecture is turning into a marathon of boredom. The phone is lying in front of you, and with it a world of friends and videos. But with which consequences?
Your alarm goes off in the morning, and before you have even had the time to think, your phone is in your hands. Maybe something has happened since you fell asleep?
You are not alone; according to an American study, 4 out of 5 people check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up in the morning. During the rest of the day, we check it an average of 150 times.
It has become evident that this constant state of being connected and having access to the Internet contributes to several issues: increasing levels of stress, difficulties with concentration and a negative impact on our self-image. This is a part of many students‘ everyday life.
“Those with procrastination issues tend to use social media a lot. Usually, they get stressed by not being constantly up to date, and it is hard not to scroll through one’s feed”, says Caroline Ivarsson, counsellor at Student Health Service.
She says that it is not always a question of being active yourself and having to share things online, but rather a question of not wanting to miss out on anything.
“Then there is also the belief that you have to be in a certain way, and many people have an image of themselves on social media that they might not be quite comfortable with”, she explains. “It could be that someone feels the need to show that they can do the most squats or lift the heaviest weights at the gym.”
Social media is often said to strengthen ties with acquaintances that we otherwise wouldn’t be in contact with. And it does affect our relationships.
But Per Johnsson, associate professor in clinical psychology at Lund University, also sees another aspect of it.
“To always have your phone on the table while you’re having a coffee with a friend sends them the signal that you are not fully focused. There are breaks in the conversation, and as a friend you feel unimportant when the person you are with keep checking their phone.”
“Our generation is already suffering from stress, and being constantly connected and available is a known factor that contributes to stress. At Lund University, we have never had as many female doctoral students suffering from burnout as we do now“, he says.
He does not want to speculate in why stress affects women worse than men, but that there even is a difference between women and men when it comes to being burnt out is evident, both at the universities and upper-secondary school.
Research shows that many people are addicted to social media. 2010 researchers at the University of Maryland, USA, conducted an experiment where students had to avoid modern communication devices for a day and night. This resulted in feelings of restlessness, anxiety and isolation – exactly how addicts feel when trying to quit smoking or using substances.
Both Per Johnsson and Caroline Ivarsson want to emphasize that stress is not solely related to social media.
“Each era has its way of expressing anxiety, worry, and fears, and right now much is concentrated to the Internet”, Per Johnsson says.
READ MORE: How Do We Reclaim Control?
A simple awareness exercise
- Take a short break from what you are doing
- Look around you and notice five things that you can see
- Listen carefully and notice five things that you can hear
- Pay attention to five things you can feel against your body
- Try to do all these things at the same time
Source: Student Health Service
Text: Saga Sandin
Translation: Lina Johansson
