Are you Technostressed?

Many employers are offering Digital Wellness benefits to address challenges employees are having with technology. These challenges include financial-security, cyber-security and ways to deal with work-related, technology-induced, anxiety.

Technostress refers to the stress or anxiety individuals experience because of their interactions with technology. It stems from the challenges and demands posed by constant connectivity, rapid technological changes, and the pressure to adapt to new devices, platforms, or systems. Technostress can occur in various forms, including:

Information overload: Being overwhelmed by the vast amounts of data and digital communication (e.g., emails, notifications).

Techno-complexity: Feeling stressed due to the complexity of using certain software, devices, or systems.

Techno-insecurity: Anxiety related to the fear of being replaced by technology, especially in the workplace.

Techno-uncertainty: Stress caused by constant changes and updates in technology, leading to a feeling of instability.

Techno-invasion: The feeling that technology is encroaching on personal life, making it difficult to maintain work-life balance (e.g., after-hours emails or messages).

As technology becomes more integrated into daily life, managing technostress has become an important aspect of maintaining mental well-being.

Remote = Techno-Stressful

Think about how your workplace has change over the past few years. How many of us never interact with others, except through technology? Where we used to meet in person, and have relationships in and around the office, today it’s mostly via screens, apps and more screens.

It’s too easy for the never-closed office to take over employees’ lives. Employers are recognizing the threat of burnout and addressing technostress with strategies that include:

Break policies. Encourage employees to take regular breaks away from their screens.

Create boundaries. Establish guidelines for after-hours communication. Encourage employees to disconnect after work to prevent burnout.

Digital detoxes. Offer workshops on managing screen time and practicing mindfulness to help employees develop healthier digital habits.

Supportive cultures. Lead and Encourage teams to check in on each other’s well-being and share tips for managing digital overload.

Movement breaks: Encourage short, frequent breaks for stretching or light exercise to counteract the effects of prolonged screen time.

If your organization would like help developing and communicating ways to encourage employees to alleviate technostress, contact Smith. Employee communication is what we do.

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