Digital platforms make university life easier, until they start consuming your life. Between lecture slides, discussion posts, research tabs and endless group chats, students spend an average of eight to nine hours on screens every day.
You can manage this is by supporting your digital well-being. Digital well-being is about how you use technology. So, what does that really look like and why does it matter? Let’s scroll down and find out together!
What is digital well-being?
Digital well-being is the relationship you have with technology. It goes beyond just tracking how much time you spend online. It’s about understanding how that time affects your mood, energy and body and how you protect your personal information while navigating the digital world. Maybe you’ve noticed how late-night scrolling can leave you feeling exhausted or how hours spent hunched over a laptop slowly affect your posture. All of these moments shape your digital well-being and influence how balanced your connection with technology truly is.
I didn’t think much about any of this until I listened to a Well-being & YU Podcast episode on digital well-being. I’m a podcast fan and I loved how this one made me pause and rethink the purpose of using technology: whether I’m the one using it or it’s using me.
Refresh your body and your feed
Hours of studying and scrolling add up and your body feels it before you even notice. Stiff shoulders, tired eyes and restless sleep start creeping in when most of your day happens on a screen. We’ve all been there and honestly, it builds up faster than you’d think.
Lately, I’ve been trying small changes that make my body feel lighter and my mind calmer. I keep my screen closer to eye-level so my neck doesn’t stay bent all day. I also stretch a little bit every half hour. Even a short walk to refill my water helps me reset and breathe a little. One tip that really changed the game is using YouTube study sessions to give my brain breaks instead of pushing through endless hours.
Pro tip: I always turn on warm screen tones or "night shift" on my devices in the evening. It is easier on my eyes and helps me fall asleep faster, especially on nights when my mind still feels wired.
Stay safe while you scroll
Digital well-being isn’t just about managing screen time or staying focused. It's also about protecting yourself online. Feeling safe in your digital space is a big part of feeling well overall.
Think of it like this: you wouldn’t leave your backpack open in a crowded hallway, right? The same goes for your online life. A few simple habits can go a long way in keeping your information and peace of mind protected.
Here are a few ways to start:
- Use strong, unique passwords for each account and turn on two-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Be cautious with links or “giveaway” posts that seem too good to be true - they usually are!
- Remember that once something is online, it’s there for good. Before posting, ask yourself if you’d be okay with anyone seeing it later.
Small actions like these help you stay confident and secure in the digital spaces you use every day. You’ll be surprised how often your mind starts to breathe again once you reclaim these small spaces.
Your screen will always be there waiting for you. Taking care of your digital well-being isn’t about disconnecting from technology, it’s about reconnecting with yourself.