Unplug from stress

Taming technology overload can ease anxiety, lift mood and increase happiness. Here, experts share simple ways to reclaim serenity and unleash joy

Whether your summer vacation is already behind you or coming up soon, experts are warning that the real respite you need is a break from the stress-inducing pull of pinging emails, buzzing phones and other digital distractions that complicate your day. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that more than 86 percent of us check our email, texts and social media accounts on an often to almostconstant basis—and the more we do so, the more stress and anxiety we suffer.

“Being constantly connected to technology can make us feel like we’re always on call, robbing us of opportunities to relax and enjoy pleasurable activities and special moments with friends and family,” explains Christine Carter, Ph.D., author of The Sweet Spot: How to Accomplish More by Doing

Less. “That’s a problem since research shows that cultivating strong human connections is crucial to well-being.”

Doing a “digital detox” from time to time can slash stress, so Carter advises signing off technology for at least one day a month. But that can be tough to do: While 65 percent of participants in the APA survey agreed they’d benefit from “unplugging,” only 28 percent had ever done so. Luckily, making simple changes to the way we use technology can slash stress, rev energy, boost mood and more. Read on for the expert-backed strategies that let you stay tapped into the need-to-know information that technology provides while avoiding its stressful downsides.