Are You a "Constant Checker?"

Although some of us don’t like to admit it, smartphones have changed the way we live, work and relate to others. They’ve made our lives easier by having information at our fingertips and digitally connecting (or reconnecting) us to family and friends. But there are also downsides: they can increase our stress and disconnect us from people IRL (in real life).

In the matter of a decade, the percentage of adult Americans using social media increased from a mere 7 percent in 2005 to 65 percent in 2015. The accessibility to email, text and social media apps has paved the way for a new habit of “constant checking.”

The 2017 American Psychological Association’s Stress in America™ survey revealed some insight into the “constant checker.” Even when together, 44 percent of constant checkers feel disconnected from family (compared to 25 percent of non-constant checkers). And, because of social media, more than one-third of constant checkers (35 percent) are less likely to meet with family and friends in person, versus 15 percent of non-constant checkers.

Our attachment to devices is associated with higher stress levels. In fact, the generation most comfortable with technology—millennials—is the most stressed out. Since 2014, millennials have had the highest stress level of all generations and are the most concerned about the impact of social media on their health.

If you are concerned about your stress level, be sure to mention it to your primary care provider so he/she can help with ways to reduce and manage stress. If you need help finding a provider, call Overlake Clinics at (425) 635-6600 or visit overlakehospital.org/clinics.