Millennials have spent their lives embracing the growing technology boom. And while the privilege of instant access to information has improved the lives of this generation on many levels, health experts are beginning to take a step back to consider the long-term health problems that could arise from these technological advancements.

Millennials and Technology Grew Up Together

Millennials– those born between 1980 and 2000– now account for the majority of our workforce. And in today’s workplace, it is impossible to escape technology. But technology is not a new facet of the culture that Millennials are just now being exposed to. No, technology has been working in the lives of Millennials far sooner than it has any other generation before. In fact, most Millennials have grown up with technology in every stage of their lives. It is hard for Millennials to imagine a time when computers weren’t in their classrooms, when their parents didn’t have a bag phone or car phone, or when their favorite heart throb (hello, Zack Morris) wasn’t making calls on cellular devices.

And as Millennials advanced through college and into the workforce, computers and smart phones became popular solutions they couldn’t ignore. But what effect has years of technology had on the Millennials’ bodies? Is all of the ease created by these gadgets easy on our bodies?

The longer we pause to study the physical reaction that technology has had on Millennials, the more obvious it becomes that yes, technology is having radical effects on the human body. And before we let it slip away from us, it’s time to evaluate our use of them before the damage becomes too much.

Hello, Smartphones, Hello Texting Neck

Okay, we know, “texting neck” might sound like a made up term, but we promise it’s a reality you will want to become aware of. The sooner you become aware of it, the better you will be able to prevent it through simple lifestyle changes. Texting neck is caused by, you guessed it, texting. It’s a pretty simple concept to understand. The smaller the object you are looking at in your hands, the greater your tendency to lean down and stretch your neck to see it. Texting, and looking at smart phone screens, are causing increased and unnatural strains on our necks, forcing necks and heads to jet out of their natural alignment for hours at a time.

If you notice that you may be suffering from texting neck, there are a few simple solutions that you may want to try. First, try standing when you text. This will take unnecessary pressure off your back and buttocks. Additionally, try bring your phone closer to your eyes, rather than trying to get your eyes closer to your phone. The good news is that the more mindful you become of this bad habit, the more effectively you can stop the negative effects that it has on your body.

Sit, Type, Stare, Repeat

Did you know that 4 to 11 million Millennials spend at least 9 hours a day looking at a computer screen? Pretty wild, right? The issue is that all of this screen time causes our bodies to become stagnate in one place. We find ourselves slouching and sitting in peculiar positions that aren’t natural to the human form.

Are you someone who relies on a screen to preform your job?

Don’t worry there are some simple changes that you can make to your posture in order to help alleviate back and neck pain caused by screen time. One easy solution is to get yourself a standing desk. The research on standing desks is pretty powerful. Standing desks allow us to fix our posture by forcing us into the upright position. So, instead of leaning over a desk, we stand parallel to the monitor.

Another solution is to raise the height of your monitor. Boost your screen up on books so that you aren’t forcing your neck to look downward all day. By heightening your screen you allow your neck to maintain it’s natural alignment.

Cut Bad Habits, Not the Technology

So, now that we have become aware of the problems technology can have, it’s important that we take the suggested changes to help eliminate the impact they can have on our bodies.

Are you a Millennial suffering from excruciating neck and pain and can’t seem to get over it? Have you tried everything, but nothing seems to be working? Then, maybe it’s time to stop by for a quick adjustment on your way home from work. The reality is, your job isn’t going to change. So, you just have to take proactive steps to get ahead of the pain. Chiropractic is a solid solution for getting rid of the stress that your job has brought onto your body. And if you’re interested in learning more, we’d love to give you a personalized examine that allows you to see just how technology is impacting your spinal cord. For more information, just give us a call today to schedule your appointment.