Tech Stress: Living Smart with Screen-Dependence

A fresh, science-backed approach to reframing our often damaging relationship with technology—with tips on ergonomics, optimal screen-time, combatting ‘brain drain’, and more.

Reclaim health, happiness, and sanity in a plugged-in world with this self-help guide for the 21st-century worker suffering from burnout, Zoom fatigue, shortened attention span, and smartphone addiction.
 
Evolution shapes behavior—and as a species, we've evolved to be drawn to the instant gratification, constant connectivity, and the shiny lights, beeps, and chimes of our ever-present devices. In earlier eras, these hardwired evolutionary patterns may have set us up for success, but today they confuse our instincts, leaving us vulnerable and stressed out from fractured attention, missed sleep, skipped meals, aches, pains, and exhaustion.

So how can we avoid the pitfalls programmed into modern technology use?

Tech Stress offers real, practical tools to avoid the evolutionary traps that trip us up and to address the problems associated with technology overuse. You will find a range of effective strategies and best practices to individualize your workspace (in the office and at home), reduce physical strain, prevent sore muscles, combat brain drain, and correct poor posture. The book also provides fresh insights on reducing stress and enhancing health.

ERIK PEPER, PhD, is Professor of Holistic Health Studies at San Francisco State University and President of the Biofeedback Foundation of Europe. He received the 2004 California Governor's Safety Award for work on Healthy Computing. He's authored numerous scientific articles and books and was featured on ABCNews.com, GQ, Glamour, Men's Health, the San Francisco Chronicle, Shape, and Women's Health.

RICHARD HARVEY, PHD, an associate professor in the Department of Health Education at San Francisco State University, served as president of the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback and the Western Association for Biofeedback and Neuroscience. He was recently honored in 2019 by the Biofeedback Federation of Europe's Biofeedback Educator Award.

NANCY FAASS, MSW, MPH, founder and director of Health Writers' Group, is a writer and editor in San Francisco. For over twenty years, she has worked with clients to develop books, articles, and web content in the field of integrative medicine.