Khaberni - Studies have shown that the way users hold their smartphones, including bending their heads forward or tightening their shoulders, can actually contribute to increasing levels of anxiety, the feeling of fatigue, and a decline in mental performance.
With the widespread use of smartphones in daily life, the importance of focusing on body posture as a factor affecting mental health becomes apparent.
Relationship to Mood
Studies have shown a clear difference between two main positions. The first, commonly used, involves bending over the phone with the head lowered, while the second involves standing or sitting upright, with the chest lifted and shoulders pulled back.
The first position, according to its description, helps activate signals of stress and negative mood, while the second position supports feelings of confidence and alertness.
From a scientific perspective, this phenomenon is based on what is known as cognitive embodiment, which assumes that body posture affects the mind and emotions.
Bending forward sends signals to the brain indicating a posture of contraction or threat, which stimulates stress mechanisms, whereas standing upright facilitates signals of safety and activity.
Impact on Overall Feeling
A change in mood and energy may occur within just minutes when adopting a bent posture while using the smartphone.
Even a short period of use in this posture, such as two or three minutes, can affect the overall feeling.
In the long run, repeated poor posture for hours daily enables the body to adapt to a negative state, contributing to sustained low levels of energy and a non-positive mood.
Helpful Recommendations
Studies have provided a number of practical recommendations for users to avoid negative effects, including raising the phone to eye level or close to it, to reduce neck bending, and taking regular breaks every 20 to 30 minutes, such as standing or taking deep breaths and stretching the shoulders back and gently moving the neck.
Also, it is important to consciously review and adjust the body posture to a more aligned position. For further comfort, engaging in strengthening exercises, stabilization exercises, and chest muscle stretching can be beneficial.
