Intensive Use of the Internet Requires Health Care during the Quarantine

The need for social isolation brought on by the new coronavirus pandemic has changed the routine of people around the world. With a large part of the population at home, it is natural that one of the effects has been the increase in the amount of time spent online. A study carried out by Hootsuite (a social media company) in 2019, that is, before the pandemic, points out that Brazilians spent an average of 9 hours and 29 minutes online per day – the second most connected country in the world.

excessive time on the Internet can be harmful to your health. According to researchers from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, excessive time on the Internet can affect memory, concentration, and sociability. With the spread of COVID-19, it is common that almost all human activities are mediated by a screen. Then, we must take breaks during the day.

Check Out Tips to Step Away from the Screens and Enjoy Free Time:

Exercising during quarantine requires extra dedication and space at home. But do not get discouraged. Physical activities can be done at home without much sacrifice. Thirty minutes a day is enough to have a healthier life.

An excellent activity away from the screens are board games. Nowadays, there are several games to play with the whole family. Also, you can play hundreds of different games with the good old deck of cards.

You can have some plant pots if you do not have a garden or yard at home. Plants help to purify the air and complete the decor.

It is time to put that long-kept recipe into practice. Prepare a dessert you always wanted to try or a traditional family recipe forgotten in the drawer for years. It is a good excuse to call an acquaintance, learn a recipe, and then venture into the kitchen.

For music fans, dust off that musical instrument hidden in the closet. Take a few minutes a day to improve your technique or simply listen to music to relax after a working day.

Meditate a few minutes every day. Disconnecting from social media and focusing on breathing and body sensations are beneficial to health. Several studies prove the effectiveness of meditation in reducing the body’s cortisol level, which is the stress hormone. Read more about mental health.

A great way to pass the time is to learn how to sew or embroider. It is an activity that requires hours of dedication and focus and it will keep you away from the screens. You can buy kits of threads and all the required material. Best of all, creations can serve as nice gifts.

Spending more time on the computer means reading more. But when was the last time you stopped to read a book on paper? Working material does not count, ok? Find some time at the end of the day, or during the weekend, to read. It helps to relax the mind and promotes creativity.

Talk (by phone) to someone who is having a hard time during this quarantine or is alone at home; they will be very happy to talk to you and know that someone cares about them. It may be a friend, a family member, a person at higher risk who has been in quarantine for a long time, or a coworker. In addition to showing empathy and catching up, you will do a good action.