There are probably few people who have not in some way embraced aspects of digital technology, whether we like it or not. We can book holidays and shop on-line, make phone calls from the top of a mountain or from a beach holiday, we can communicate by email or chat room text and we can make a tally of friends on a social network site.
Those of us who use computer or display screen equipment in our work will be aware of the ways in which working life has been transformed by the use of new technology. Much like the Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century, there are some people who will continue to resist the trends to go digital but there can be few of in the UK at least, whose lives are not mediated through this new technology. While much of this revolution is for the better, there are downsides that have accompanied the advent of this revolution.
Working with computers or Display Screen Equipment (DSE) has led to the growth of sedentary occupations and the advent of new work-related health problems linked to the inappropriate use of DSE.
The widespread availability of Broadband technology and mobile phones has led to the potential for you to take work home with more ease than ever before. Go on holiday and you can continue to be connected day and night to personal or work communications. And the ease of use of SMS, email and on-line chat means that face to face relationships can easily become subordinate to virtual relationships.
On the other side of this of course are those people who for all sorts of reasons shy away from the use of new technology. Sometimes this is a conscious choice to prioritise a different way of living. However, sometimes people can develop phobic reactions to and fear of using computers which unnecessarily limits the potential that this technology may offer.
In order to ensure that technology remains in service to you rather than becoming the unacknowledged driver of your life it is important to make sure that you are taking responsibility for putting in place appropriate boundaries between work and home life. The drawing of these boundaries is down to you. Each person is different in the extent to which they are willing or able to take work home. But what is important is that you maintain a healthy perspective on the balance between the different domains in your life. These will include work; family, friends; physical health and fitness, hobbies or other interests like spiritual practices or educational projects. Psychological and physical health and wellbeing is a complex thing but usually is best cultivated by maintaining a healthy balance between these different things.
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