Excessive Screen Time Disrupts Rest, Raises Stress Levels — Psychologist Warns

By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh

Psychologist and Mental Health Advocate Naa Okailey Okaitey has cautioned that excessive screen time, particularly prolonged social media scrolling, may be undermining genuine rest and increasing stress levels.

Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed FM, Ms. Okaitey said many people spend hours on their phones believing they are relaxing, only to realise much later that significant time has passed without meaningful rest.

“You have people who scroll and by the time they realise, six hours have gone and they are still on their phone,” she noted.

According to her, emerging research links overexposure to screens to changes in brain chemistry. She explained that the light emitted from screens can stimulate cortisol production, the hormone associated with stress.

“The light from the screen is actually stimulating cortisol production. So you may be lying down ‘resting,’ but constantly on your phone, and your cortisol levels are rising,” she stated.

Ms. Okaitey further explained that although individuals may feel they have done nothing physically demanding, their bodies may still register heightened stress responses. This often results in persistent fatigue, eye strain and difficulty sleeping.

“You feel you’ve not done anything, but a lot of people still feel tired. Your eyes are aching and now you are struggling to sleep,” she said.

She added that many people find themselves tossing and turning in bed because their bodies remain in a heightened state of alertness, despite being inactive.

“Your body is still registering high levels of stress even though you are at zero activity state,” she emphasised.

While clarifying that screen use is not inherently harmful — especially in an era of virtual work and online engagements, Ms. Okaitey stressed the importance of regulating non-essential screen time.

“If being on your phone is not part of your work, and you are just online casually, then you should regulate it,” she advised.

She recommended limiting leisure screen sessions to a maximum of 45 minutes at a time, followed by intentional breaks away from devices.

“After about 45 minutes per session online, take some time out. Do something that involves less screen exposure,” she suggested.

Ms. Okaitey encouraged individuals to adopt healthier digital habits to protect their mental well-being, emphasising that true rest requires disconnecting from stimuli that keep the brain in a state of stress.