2023-09-12 23:40:55
It’s a small epidemic that contributes to the wave of fatigue: when you’re on a screen, you stop breathing.
When you carry out a task on a screen, whether that of a computer, a smartphone or a tablet, it is quite possible that without realizing it, you change the rhythm of your breathing, or even that you interrupted him.
In itself, this is not really dangerous, nor very surprising: it is common to see our breathing jerk or stop temporarily when faced with an activity that surprises us or requires us to concentrate. This is the same reflex that once allowed us to focus all brain activity on escaping predators, and probably also functioned as a reflex to avoid detection.
The problem is that when we use our smartphones and computers, this reflex reappears, and tends to repeat itself a little too often, especially when we use them for an activity that requires a certain level of concentration. This is for example the case when writing the lines you are reading. But it’s also probably true for you when you’re checking your emails, as the slightly provocative title ofan article from the New York Times.
And by going through numerous episodes of apnea, there is a strong risk of exhaustion. At a time when healthcare professionals are sounding the alarm due to a real epidemic of fatigue, this can only make things worse…
Fortunately, it is possible to control your breathing to prevent your computer screen from stopping you from breathing. But it’s not as easy as it seems.
First, because it requires constant effort to remember to breathe, something we normally do mechanically. Then because becoming aware of your own breathing is not an easy thing… This is what we sometimes call “breathing manually”, and if you know a little about the meme culture of the English-speaking Internet, you know how unpleasant it is (and you probably are).
So what to do? First of all, you should establish a routine that will remind you to breathe, for example by setting alarms on your phone. Secondly, to ensure that you find an ideal breathing rhythm, it would apparently be enough to… sigh! Preferably loudly…
Finally, apparently, according to New York magazine, not all screens are equal. Indeed, the smaller it is, the more likely you are to end up with screen apnea. It would therefore be better to use a computer than a smartphone to do a task requiring concentration, such as working.
And of course, take some time to relax every once in a while. Interrupt your work and step away from the screens for a few moments. And why not take advantage of these moments of respite to do breathing exercises?
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