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How to Increase Mindfulness and Decrease Stress Online

How to Increase Mindfulness and Decrease Stress Online | CyberDot | Cyber Insurance

Between work and personal life, the average person spends a great deal of time online on a daily basis. This can lead to a great deal of stress, whether you worry about missing out on activities your friends enjoy, frustrating ads interrupting your viewing experience, or malicious attackers taking advantage of your computer’s vulnerability. No matter how you use the internet, you will be glad to discover that a bit of mindfulness online can decrease your stress, letting you make the most of the internet without having to deal with stress or concerns.

How to Use Mindfulness to Decrease Stress Online

Select a Password Manager

Believe it or not, a password manager can be a key part of mindfulness online. Anyone with minimal security knowledge will tell you that reusing a password leaves you susceptible to hackers. The issue arises from the fact that the average person cannot memorize dozens of unique passwords, creating a stressful environment online. A password manager can assist with this by keeping track of passwords for you.

Password managers can improve mindfulness and decrease stress in multiple ways. You will be able to use strong passwords for multiple accounts, alleviating many of your concerns regarding potential hacks. At the same time, you will not have to actually remember all of those passwords since the program will do so for you, giving you one less thing to think about.

Get Rid of Ads

For many, one of the worst parts of an online experience is dealing with the plethora of ads. In the best-case scenario, they interrupt your viewing experience or make your page load more slowly, causing frustration. In the worst-case scenario, they make it impossible to get anything done or spread viruses. Luckily, while ads are getting smarter, so is ad-blocking software. Invest in an ad blocker or choose a free one to use, and you will have one less stress-inducing factor hurting your online experience.

Upgrade Your Internet

Depending on how you use the internet and your current speed, it might be worth it to upgrade to quicker internet access to reduce stress. Business owners will not have to waste company time waiting for files to load and can rely more on video conferences. A good internet speed can improve page loading speed, boost the ability of team members to communicate, and shorten response times. The average person will also benefit from faster internet by being able to interact with others more easily.

Use Social Media Wisely

Research on the mental impact of social media is still relatively new since social media itself is young. Even so, experts agree that there is a clear impact on your mental health based on how and how often you use social media. If you use social media in search of “likes” and use that as your sole gauge of how others feel about you, this will not be good for your mental health. By contrast, if you use social media to interact with others, feel connected, and spread positive messages, it will increase your mindfulness. In fact, a study from just a few years ago by Pew Research Center found that using social media reduces stress in women who use it in a certain way. The social media platforms let women share emotional experiences, most importantly, the positive ones.

Take a Break from Accounts

Even if you run a company, you do not need to be online 24/7. If you are constantly connected, this will just increase your stress since you always worry about getting an email or following up with a notification. Instead of trying to get yourself to ignore certain emails or notifications that are less important, consider logging out for a set amount of time every day or week. Even business owners should have enough confidence in their employees to run the operation for a few hours a week. When you log out, you can decompress and perform better once you log back in.

Invest in Security Software

Whether you are a business engaging in large transactions or an average person who occasionally makes purchases online, cybersecurity will likely cause at least some stress, even if you are unaware of it. You can significantly reduce this concern by choosing strong security software. Depending on your computer usage, many people will do well enough with free programs, provided you choose a reliable one with a strong reputation. However, most should consider paying for security software, and this is particularly important if you run a business.

Select cybersecurity software with a strong reputation and protection against the largest threats. It should be able to detect and block malware, viruses, and other cyberattacks. Depending on your chosen software, it might even include an ad blocker, saving you one step on this list.

Consider Cybersecurity Insurance

If you are in charge of a business, then some of your internet-related stress might be due to security concerns. In addition to getting good security software, investing in cybersecurity insurance can provide a great deal of peace of mind and relieve that stress. If you work with a cybersecurity insurance company, you will be able to follow its advice and reduce your risk of a cyberattack, which should dramatically lower stress. Further peace of mind will come from the fact that if something does happen, your insurance company is there to help you get through it, giving you one less thing to worry about.

Consider Non-Technological Mindfulness Methods

When it comes to increasing mindfulness online and reducing stress, you should not rely solely on technology-related methods. Get off the computer for a few minutes and try mindful breathing, listening, observation, or awareness. Engage in a stress-relief activity, like walking around the block or listening to music. You can even listen to music while working online to improve mindfulness without taking a break.

Conclusion

Although the internet does provide ample opportunities for stress, there are plenty of strategies available to increase mindfulness and decrease that stress. Between some minor changes to your online habits and stress-relief techniques that are completely unrelated to technology, you should be able to increase your mindfulness and feel better, whether you are online at any given moment.

Resources:

http://www.itsecurityguru.org/2016/10/05/4-easy-ways-to-be-more-mindful-online/

https://smallbiztrends.com/2015/12/10-ways-high-speed-internet-can-relive-business-stress.html

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/social-media-can-reduce-stress-at-least-for-women-study-finds/article22490235/