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A recent Nielsen poll found that Austtralians are on average spending 17.6 hours per week on the internet with 75% of those users using social networking sites. More concerning is children spending up to 22 hours in front of the computer screen surfing the net rather than being involved in physical exercise.

With Australia’s obesity rate going out of control there needs to be a change in our technilogical behavior. More alarming is that this phenomenon is starting to lead to obsessive compulsive type behavior and stress.

Part of leading a healthy lifestyle is having downtime to switch off and disconnect. I find it concerning that people cannot resist the temptation to check emails after work hours on there new smart phones even if there is a high probability it’s work related.

As technological advances in the area of instant communication and connecting with information, we are slowly eroding any down time.

It’s interesting that people often site the lack of time or tiredness for not exercising or adopting a healthier eating regime but as a society we are prioritising gluing our eyeballs to the computer or mobile phone screen, be it looking at/sending emails, SMS messaging, instant chat and surfing the internet.

I often wonder whether life back in the 1950′s may have been better for your health without all the latest technological gadgets.

We are moving towards a fatter, more fatigue society and unfortunately the internet and social networking responsibilities aren’t helping.

A great indicator to test if you are relaxed, disconnected and carefree on your holidays is whether you stop checking for emails on your computer – internet cafe or switched the mobile phone off.
It is generally accepted that it takes 2 weeks to start switching off from the usual pace of life and start relaxing.

For some people, they have forgotten to learn how to relax or are torn between the guilt of not being in touch with work while trying to balance spending time relaxing with the family, friends or their partner.
Now a days with super gadgets that can do it all, being an MP3 player, alarm clock, camera, video recorder, diary, video entertainment, web browser and hand held gaming device, it’s hard to leave home without the mobile or alternatively, leave it switched off.

So you bring the mobile with you on the holidays BUT can you resist the irresistible temptation to check your emails just in case.

So we need start the relaxation process by disconnecting from the world. Solitude is good for the soul. Give your family your 100% attention without the technological distractions being present.

So at the end of your holidays, have you disconnected, use this as the indicator after your holidays to see whether you are relaxed and carefree.