Clinical psychologist Merve Vural of Eskişehir Acıbadem Hospital stated that constantly checking notifications leads to mental exhaustion, emphasizing that digital fatigue causes difficulty concentrating and intolerance, and called for "creating screen-free times for mental health."
Vural stated that the need to check every notification on your phone, respond to messages instantly, or constantly follow what's happening on social media is not just a habit, warning, "The digital age brings with it a constant state of being online. This tires our minds without us realizing it. Being constantly accessible can keep the nervous system in a continuously stimulated state. Over time, this situation can manifest as difficulty concentrating, intolerance, sleep problems, and emotional exhaustion."
"Our minds cannot truly take a break during the day"
Merve Vural underlined that sometimes, even if we haven't done anything physically, we can feel mentally exhausted, saying, "One of the important reasons for this is our constant digital accessibility. Phone notifications, work messages, emails, and social media can make it difficult for our minds to truly take a break during the day. The need to respond immediately when a message arrives, the habit of checking the phone outside of work hours, the fear of missing out on what's happening on social media, and the constant tracking of current events can keep the nervous system in a continuously stimulated state. This situation not only causes the blurring of boundaries between work and private life but can also lead to difficulty concentrating, intolerance, sleep problems, physical tension, and emotional fatigue over time."
"Not just screen time, but how the screen is used is important"
Vural stated that digital fatigue is increasingly observed in children and adolescents, saying, "Screen time can increase during the summer months. However, focusing solely on the question 'how many hours is the screen used?' is not enough. What the child does on screen, how they feel afterwards, and whether their sleep, peer relationships, and daily life are affected should also be evaluated."
"Digital boundaries are also necessary for mental health"
Merve Vural stated that digital fatigue can manifest with phrases such as "I can't keep up with anything," "I can't focus, I can't organize," "I'm constantly tense, angry," "I don't feel rested even if I rest," adding, "One of the important ways to protect mental health is to set boundaries. Silencing the phone, limiting notifications, reviewing the habit of responding to messages outside of work hours, and creating screen-free times during the day can help reduce mental load."
"Sometimes the best rest is to be unreachable"
Vural stated that the human mind is not designed for continuous performance, saying, "Rest, space, slowing down, and stillness are also part of psychological health. Sometimes what increases productivity is not more activity, but giving the mind an opportunity to pause. Even short breaks during the day where we feel we don't have to answer anyone can be protective for our mental health." - ESKİŞEHİR