Tips to manage excess screen time

To cope with the increase in screen time, Moeller said it is vital for students to exercise.

“Not enough can be said about the importance of exercise. It releases endorphins in our brain, which are feel-good chemicals that help our mood, (that) help us sleep better,” Moeller said.

To battle the physical side effects of screens, Truett said he does his best to go outside. 

“I try to get out for at least an hour a day, whether that’s running or going over to Theodore Wirth and doing an hour of skiing. And then I come back and try to balance it out and try to do other stuff throughout the day,” Truett said.

Nagorski has found several ways to help manage her workload including participating in class and staying organized. 

“Recently, I’ve been drinking Sleepytime tea so I go to bed at a better hour. I’ve been making these little lists and that’s really helpful for me to manage (and) put all my assignments from each class to keep up to date with them,” Nagorski said. 

According to Moeller, the light coming off a screen is similar to the sunlight telling people’s bodies to wake up. To help students sleep better with the increase in screen time, students should avoid using screens at night. To avoid that, students should leave electronics outside of their bedrooms. 

To help herself stay organized and motivated, Ramberg said she dedicated her desk to schoolwork only. She also has a specific notebook for each class and writes down what she needs to get done in her calendar. 

“The calendar helps so I don’t have to go back to Schoology or Powerschool and see what I have to do, it’s all just right there,” Ramberg said. “Having all my schoolwork at my desk is like a psychological thing. So my brain thinks when I’m at my desk I’m doing schoolwork and nothing else.”