I honestly think one of the things people refuse to realise is how damaging too much screen time can be. We live in a time where everything is digital—our work, our communication, our entertainment. While it comes with a lot of benefits, I feel like many of us are not paying enough attention to the effects it's having on our health.
Let me share something that happened recently in my family. My sister got a job with Opay as a customer service agent. At first, it seemed like a really good opportunity. The pay was fair, and everyone was happy for her. But the nature of the job required her to be constantly active on her phone and computer—sometimes even late into the night. She would barely get proper rest, and I could see it was beginning to take a toll on her.
After some months, she started complaining about her eyes. They were always red, itchy, and painful. Eventually, she had to go for a proper eye check and the result? She needed glasses. It was really sad to see someone who had perfect vision before suddenly needing corrective lenses all because of work stress and screen overuse. She even made the decision to quit the job altogether because it was starting to affect not just her physical health but also her peace of mind.
That whole experience really opened my eyes to how dangerous spending too much time on the screen can be. And to be honest, I’ve also had my fair share of screen-related issues. There were times when I would stay up very late at night, just scrolling on my phone. Sometimes, I didn’t even realise how fast time was flying. Before I knew it, it would be 2am, and I’d still be glued to my screen, either on social media or just bouncing from one thing to another online. The next morning, I would wake up with red, itchy eyes, and my head would feel heavy throughout the day.
It got to a point where I knew I had to do something for my own good. So, I decided to be intentional about sleeping early—sometimes as early as 9 pm. Truthfully, I started seeing changes. My eyes stopped itching as much, I woke up feeling better, and my whole body just felt lighter and more in tune.
I know that a lot of us make money by constantly using our phones or laptops—whether it’s freelancing, digital marketing, trading, or remote jobs. But at the same time, I believe we need to create balance. There has to be a routine or system where we just step away from the screen and reconnect with real life.
For me, I started doing something really simple: I would put my phone away and just spend time outside. Sometimes, I walk around the compound, observe nature, or even just sit quietly in silence. And to be honest, those quiet moments give me clarity. I begin to reflect on life, on myself, and I even come up with ideas I wouldn’t have thought of if I was still busy scrolling through Instagram or TikTok.
At the end of the day, I’m not saying we should abandon technology—far from it. But I think we need to be more aware of how we use it. Our health, both physical and mental, matters a lot. And if we keep neglecting it because we’re always “online,” we may end up paying a price that money can’t fix.
Thanks for reading.