We live in a world in which we’re able to contact people or grab information with the touch of a button.  The technology so interwoven into our daily lives provides us with a great convenience, but is this digital age taking a toll on our health?

Cutting edge technology provides many of us with the ability to telecommute.  As I write this, I’m sitting in my home office connected online via WiFi.  My printer and fax machine are in the corner of the room and my new cell phone is on my desk.  I’m reachable almost instantly via phone, email, and IM.  I have to admit I’m also eating a plate of pasta.  When I’m on a roll, I like to keep at it.

An article in the paper regarding the poor health of bloggers really caught my attention the other day.  The article explains that many bloggers complain of weight loss/gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion, stress, and other health issues.  It is not unreasonable to assume that these health problems may be caused by the constant demands of the digital world.  The Internet never closes.

The article talks about Michael Arrington, founder of the well-known TechCrunch blog, who has gained 30 pounds and developed a sleeping disorder over the last three years.  He even said, “At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen.”

It’s not just bloggers at risk, however.  Many of us are avid Internet users.  With newspapers going online and the advent of blogs, we no longer need to wait for the daily paper in the morning to be connected to the world.  However, because websites are so dynamic and accessible, it’s easy to spend too much time in front of our computers and mobile phones.  Many of us – myself included – are guilty of not taking time to stop and smell the roses.

Stephanie over at Back in Skinny Jeans blogged about the news article as well.  Stephanie offers some tips to reduce the stress associated with blogging.  She says, “Isn’t that hilarious yet insane that a story can get old in less than an hour on the web?”  For this reason, she has switched to publishing more original content rather than reporting on news events.  It removes the stress associated with always attempting to be on top of the news and to be one of the first to blog about a big story.  You can read more tips from Stephanie and her readers here.

Glen at LifeDev talks about well-known blogger Om Malik, who suffered life-threatening health problems, and summarizes the insight his doctor provided.  Malik’s doctor informed him that spending a lot of time on the computer at night makes it difficult to fall asleep, as the flicker from the screen makes our eyes and mind think it’s daytime.  Glen also points to Jonathan Fields, who creatively turned his treadmill into a desk.  Glen also shares some tips on staying healthy in the digital age here.

We don’t need to stop blogging or telecommuting from our home offices and Internet cafes.  We just need to keep our health in mind and set aside time for ourselves.  Take a look at Catherine Morgan’s post about “me” time.  I build walking breaks into my routine in order to get some sun and exercise throughout my work day.  Here are some tips to stay healthy while still using all of your beloved tech gadgets:

• Take your dog for a leisurely walk around the neighborhood.
• Walk or bike to the grocery store to pick up food for dinner.
• Go on a short run.
• Walk to a café for a change of scenery while browsing the Web.
• If you drive, park farther away and walk more to your destination.

Does your health suffer as a result of the time you spend in the digital world?  Do you have any tips to offer people looking to stay healthy while staying connected?

(Image courtesy of superlocal.)