I want to let you in on a secret. I live two lives. Yes, you heard me right.One is my real life where I go to school, play basketball, and laugh so hard that my stomach hurts. Then there's my other life, my virtual life. Here, I check my notifications.I send silly pictures and memes and wait to see if someone has liked or seen what I shared. In my real life, I can actually high-five my friend after a basketball game and still feel the sting in my palm. I can hear the cheer of my teammates when I score a poi ...

That was just 8 seconds of your time. Short, I know. But did you know that 8 seconds is the average attention span for Gen Z.For baby boomers, it's 20. And for millennials, it's 12. Now, I'm sure we all have an idea on what to blame for this dramatic decrease that happened in only 66 years.Technology, addiction, and consumable media, better known as our culprit. Let me take you back to three summers ago. All my friends had phones, and I wanted to be included.So, as any kid would, I begged my parents for one ...

[Music] [Music] Isn't it wild how much the internet has changed. Back when I was a child, the meaning of screen time and any concerns around it were focused around how closely I sat to the television while watching Bugs Bunny or Say by the Bell. And now, decades later, the meaning has completely changed.The internet, which was once a novelty, has become an integral part of our day-to-day lives, ultimately shaping how we connect, how we learn, and how we interact. And as I reflect on this shift, I can't help ...

Mental Health Crisis - Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 24 in the United States [1] - Poor mental health is a significant problem, but solutions are available [1] Factors Contributing to Declining Mental Health - Excessive screen time distracts and lowers self-esteem [3] - Unhealthy diets of junk food negatively impact the gut-brain connection, studied in nutritional psychiatry [4] - Daily challenges, though seemingly small, compound over time and negatively affect mental health [5] Impact of Technology - Teenagers spend an average of 6 to 8 hours per day on devices for leisure [6] - Excessive device usage correlates with increased stress, depression, and anxiety [7] - Smartphones, with their combination of camera, internet, and social media, can negatively impact mental health [7] Mitigation Strategies - Meditation can be used as a tool to improve mental health [8][14] - Meditation cultivates patience, focus, and mindfulness [11] - Mindfulness skills learned through meditation can lead to a calmer mind, improved concentration, and a solid foundation for good mental health [12][13]