DO YOU NEED A MEDIA DETOX?
The Dangers of Overstimulation
“In the same way we think about what we eat, we should think about what we read, what we’re seeing, what we’re engaging in, and what we’re interacting with every day,” Emma Watson told CNN in an interview about her selective social media use. If you’re not mindful of your media consumption and participation, it tends to pile up. When you detox, it’s a lot easier to identify which parts of your media diet are essential and which are only a burden. Another benefit of a media detox is that you’ll have more time to pursue new and dormant hobbies. Because most of us consume media in small chunks throughout the day, it’s easy to overlook how much that time adds up. All those hours you spend on Facebook could be used to start a garden, knit a quilt, or join a soccer league. Unless you have an unlimited supply of leisure time (and who does?), you need to be selective in the way you spend it. Remember, media isn’t the cause of all your ills. Used mindfully, it can actually increase happiness and satisfaction. The problem is that we are so mired in the media muck that we can’t get a perspective on how much is too much. A detox will allow you to reassess the media you’re consuming and build a better plan for the future. You can still keep up with your grandkids on Facebook, but it shouldn’t be the only way you interact with the world.
With the current trend of getting TV, social media, and news alerts sent to our phones, we have access to more media than we could ever consume. While constant connectivity is a boon for many aspects of our lives, researchers are discovering that too much stimulation is cause for concern. One study in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that too much social comparison, spurred by the likes of Facebook and cable news, can lead to an increased risk of depression. If you find yourself pressured to live up to the public lives of friends and family, or if you feel like you’re being bombarded with too much news and entertainment, consider a media detox. A detox doesn’t require you to unsubscribe from social media services or unplug your TV forever. Instead, think of it as a vacation from the overstimulation so many of us experience. Ask yourself which aspects of your media diet are causing more stress than they’re worth, and take a break from them for a little while. This past January, Lisa Pezzano Mickey was invited to speak at the 2018 Advanced Workers’ Compensation Law Conference, sponsored by the New Jersey Council on Safety & Health (COSH). It was an honor for our firm to be represented at this event, which featured several prominent attorneys in the workers’ compensation arena. We are always grateful for the opportunity to share our knowledge and collaborate with other members of the legal community. The conference covered the topics of temporary disability and light-duty work, both of which are critical issues for workers who are trying to return to the workplace following an injury. Lisa explained, “Insurance companies are pressuring employers to get employees back to work as soon as possible on light-duty, [and] that can raise a whole host of issues for clients who want to keep their job but don’t want to re-injure themselves by going back to work too early.” We believe that it is generally healthy for people to stay productive and remain in the workforce, both physically and mentally. However, in her years of practice, Lisa has seen too many cases where insurance companies pressure people to resume working prematurely following an accident. This increases the risk of a re-injury and jeopardizes the prospect of continued employment in the long term. Don’t Risk Re-Injury
of weight. She was sent back to work with a light-duty note, but her supervisor kept asking her to perform heavier tasks. When Sara reminded her supervisor that she could not lift more than 10 pounds due to her injuries, she was sent home and was not put on the schedule to work again. Sara’s temporary benefits had ended, but she was not being given an opportunity to work. The employer advised the insurance company that light-duty work was available, when in actuality, the opportunity was only available on paper. Lisa took on Sara’s case and filed a Motion to resume her temporary- disability benefits, since the employer was not providing light-duty work in good faith. Sarah was then able to focus upon her recovery, so that she could return to work to support her family without worrying about a re-injury. If you have experienced a similar injustice, call us to discuss your situation. We would be happy to help.
Lisa recalls one woman in particular, whom we’ll refer to as Sara. After suffering a workplace injury, Sara was only able to lift 10 pounds
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