Screen Time Struggles: Why remote workers need to step away from their devices
We've all heard about the dangers of too much screen time for kids, but what about adults?
The discussion of how much time children should spend on digital devices has been ongoing since the early 2000s. Doctors from the National Library of Medicine argue that children are spending more time on computers, smartphones, and tablets than they should.
The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the world into a digital reality and as a result, concerns about the effects of screen time- particularly for adults-have intensified.
With the rise of fully remote jobs, adults are spending more time looking at screens than ever before. Prior to the pandemic, a mere 6% of U.S. adults worked from home. That number skyrocketed to over one-third of working adults after COVID began.
The shift to online work also brought changes to office life. When people work in offices, they take more natural breaks, such as quick chats with coworkers as they walk to the bathroom or during lunch in the breakroom. At home, remote workers may struggle to take these natural screen breaks.
Ben Kim, a full time video editor, spends most of his day in front of a computer. While many remote workers flock to coffee shops and libraries to work, Kim usually works alone in his apartment due to the nature of his work.
Ben Kim editing at his desk in his apartment.
To combat excessive screen time, Kim tries to take daily walks.
“I feel like when I don’t go out, I just feel stale,” Kim explains. “Let’s just say there’ve been times when I don’t go outside for several days in a row, and…I just don’t feel good in general.”
To connect deeper with the non-digital world, Kim took up cooking. Kim explains that cooking is a way for him to decompress after work.
“Everyone likes an easy meal, but I think every now and then, to detox completely and make stuff from scratch is always a good way to reset,” Kim said.
Cooking offers Kim a way to work with his hands and connect to his Korean roots. Though Kim lives in Boston, his family is in Alabama, so he makes Korean food when he feels homesick.
A photo of Kim's family watches over Kim as he cooks in the background.
One of his favorite nostalgic meals to make is kimbap, a customizable Korean dish made from cooked rice, vegetables, fish, or meat rolled in dried sheets of seaweed and served in bite-sized slices. Kimbap is often made to take on outdoor activities like picnics, beach days, and road trips.
“I guess I associate [kimbap] with those memories of traveling, family time, and social outings,” Kim said.
Kim lays out all the ingredients for his kimbap and starts to assemble.
Kim finds passion in cooking, just as he does in video editing.
“You can’t just [make] nonsense; otherwise, it’s going to look and turn out like garbage,” Kim explains, drawing parallels between cooking and video editing. “Understanding what you have to do and following through with it” is what Kim finds to be most important.
Kim assembles his kimbap using chopsticks.
While Kim has a deep love for cooking, he does not see himself switching to a non-digital career, such as becoming a chef.
“I have [cooking] as a hobby, which is the reason why it’s that way. Maybe in an alternate universe, or it was the ’90s or the ’70s or something,” Kim explained.
Kim's finished kimbap, ready to be eaten.
For now, Kim is content with his remote job. When asked if he would recommend the remote lifestyle, Kim had strong opinions.
To Kim, having a skill is a key qualifier for whether someone should take a remote position. A common non-skilled remote job is answering phones for call centers, which Kim compared to minimum-wage service jobs, such as “flipping burgers.”
“If you have a skill that makes sense to exist remotely, then by all means, I think you should try it,” Kim said. “If you don’t, stop being lazy and get your life together instead of trying to cut corners.”
For those who do work remote jobs, Kim stresses the importance of taking screen breaks.
“Honestly, I think the biggest thing is just to remember to go outside,” Kim said. “Remembering to just go outside and touch some grass. [Even though] a lot of things are digitized now, it’s good to take a break from all of that every once in a while.”
Remote work gives employees freedom that office jobs do not provide, such as being able to go on mid-day walks. While it may be challenging to find the time, scheduling regular screen breaks is crucial for remote workers to thrive. Instead of scrolling on social media during breaks, online employees should try to go for a walk, cook a meal from scratch, or take up a new hobby. So the next time you are working remote, remember, children aren’t the only ones who need recess.
