Teacher Tea
Wake Up Worried: The Link Between Phone Use and Student Anxiety
Why is this generation of students so anxious?
Pamela Rutledge explores a possible answer to this question in her article from Psychology Today, “How Morning Phone Habits Shape Productivity and Well-Being.” Although the article isn’t focused exclusively on children and adolescents, it does discuss how morning phone habits can significantly impact overall mental health. In particular, Rutledge highlights the negative effects of using social media first thing in the morning, such as increased stress and anxiety, and decreased self-confidence. She suggests several strategies to improve morning routines: limiting phone use before bed, avoiding social media while eating, and taking time for self-reflection before checking devices. If parents implement and enforce these changes, they can encourage a more positive and productive start to their child’s day.
Schools have been wrestling with the question of student phone usage for as long as mobile phones have been available. Excessive screen time doesn’t just impact a student’s ability to focus in class; it has far-reaching effects that range from disrupted sleep patterns to exposure to negative content on social media, which can be devastating to a young person’s mood and self-esteem. Parents and schools would ideally work cooperatively to establish healthy phone habits as soon as the phones are introduced. Without adult guidance, children are unlikely to develop the boundaries and coping mechanisms necessary for a balanced relationship with technology.