The Screen Trap

After a long working day, after coming back home, we usually lie down on our bed to unwind.

- ROUSHAN CHATTERJEE

Then, with our phones in hand, we start scrolling through reels, memes, messages, or maybe the news. It feels like comfort. But are we really relaxing? According to Dr Subrata Naskar, a neuropsychiatrist at Shanti Wellness Care Diagnostic Centre, this common post-work behaviour is doing more harm than good. As we observed 'World Brain Day' on 22 July, The Statesman spoke to the neuropsychiatrist to understand the growing issue of screen addiction and its impact on brain health.

"When we continue engaging with screens even after work, we keep our brain active when it actually needs to shut down and recover," Dr Naskar said, adding, "It's a maladaptive behaviour. It might feel good in the moment, but it leads to long-term harm."

Understanding mental fatigue

Unlike physical fatigue that comes from running around in the office, mental fatigue is harder to detect. However, its consequences are just as severe. Dr Naskar explains that when our brain is constantly engaged by calls, meetings, notifications, and scrolling, it reaches a point of exhaustion. "Our brain is also an organ. It has got a capacity, just like our muscles.

When we overuse it, it impacts our cognitive processes and leads to low concentration. So, when a person is working from home, it doesn't mean he is at rest. He might still experience mental fatigue at the end of the day. And both types of fatigue can ultimately lead to poor performance and health," he emphasised.