We frequently hear or read news reports indicating that too much screen time is bad for our kids as well as ourselves. Therefore we may find ourselves nagging them, as well as chastising ourselves, to turn off the TV, quit starring at the phone, or shut down the computer. And while too much time on the screen can be detrimental, a recent report by Psychological Science discusses what might be generally described as “too much.”
You see, researchers discovered that moderate media use has actually been correlated with “higher well-being scores.” Certain video games can even provide increased creativity skills. But of course, just like chocolate and ice cream, too much of a good thing can have negative consequences. If you are wondering what this U.K. study found to be maximum optimal levels, they reported cognitive benefits up to 1 hour 40 minutes for games and 1:57 minutes on smartphones, per day.
So what does this mean for us? Very simply – screen time can serve us well as we pursue purposeful living. We would be wise to use technology for our benefits. We would also be wise to know when to turn them off. Otherwise, they can become all consuming, eroding from our lives the very purpose that we seek.